If you made less than about $66,819 last year, the IRS may owe you money you never claimed.
The Earned Income Tax Credit is the federal government's largest anti-poverty program for working people, and roughly one in five eligible filers still doesn't claim it.
Here's the catch: you have to file a tax return to get it, even if you earned so little that you owe nothing.
That single paperwork step is why billions in EITC dollars go unclaimed every year. **What the credit is actually worth** For the 2024 tax year, the credit ranges from a few hundred dollars to $7,830 for a family with three or more qualifying children.
One child tops out at $4,213, two children at $6,960, and workers with no children can get up to $632.
That means if it's larger than the tax you owe, the difference comes back to you as a refund.
A single worker with three kids can earn up to $59,899 and still qualify.
Married couples filing jointly get more room — up to $66,819 with three children. **Why so many people leave it on the table** Some workers assume they make too little to file.
Others worry that claiming the credit will trigger an audit or hurt them somehow.
IRS data shows the credit has one of the lowest error rates of any major tax provision when claimants use a preparer or software.
The agency estimates that about 20% of eligible workers miss out, which adds up to billions of dollars a year left with the government.
Parents and guardians should also check the separate Child Tax Credit, which can stack on top of the EITC.
Many families qualify for both. **Free ways to claim it** You don't need to pay anyone to get this.
IRS Free File is open to anyone earning $84,000 or less, and it walks you through the EITC questions step by step.
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites offer free in-person help for people who make about $67,000 or less, have disabilities, or speak limited English.
If you're owed a refund, the IRS generally issues it within 21 days of an electronic return.
Paper returns take longer, and returns claiming the EITC or Child Tax Credit cannot be released before mid-February by law. **Watch for these mistakes** The most common EITC errors involve claiming a child who doesn't meet the relationship or residency rules, reporting the wrong income, and filing as single when you're actually married.
A rejected claim can delay your entire refund.
Also be skeptical of any preparer who promises a specific refund amount before seeing your documents or who charges a percentage of your refund.
That's a red flag, not a deal. **The takeaway** The credit exists to reward work, not to punish anyone.
If your income dropped last year, if you changed jobs, or if you had a child, your eligibility may have changed too.
It's worth 20 minutes with free filing software to find out.
The worst outcome is that you don't qualify.
Final Thoughts
The best is a check for thousands of dollars you were already entitled to.