@lrudek - here is the issue on 2019 vs 2021 earned income
As part of the COVID legislation, Congress was concerned that so many people lost their jobs that they would lose the benefit of the Earned Income Tax Credit which is based on earned income.
So they said that if your 2019 earned income is greater than your 2021 earned income AND it yields a higher tax credit, then use the 2019 earned income to calculate the tax credit. When you input your 2019 earned income into TT, TT will determine if there is a benefit.
Look at the table below, I can tell you that if your 2021 earned income is greater than the numbers in the table, there is NO benefit using 2019 earned income as the 2021 earned income will yield a better tax credit. if your 2021 earned income is BELOW the numbers in this table it MAY be a benefit to use 2019 (the math is complex so not explained here)
| | Single / HOH/ MFS / Qual Widow | Married – Joint |
0 Children | $9,800 | $9,800 |
1 Child | $10,600 | $10,600 |
2 Children | $14,950 | $14,950 |
3 Children | $14,950 | $14,950 |
does that help?
