topic EITC and look back in Deductions & credits

EITC and look back

Nicolesummer — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 10:07:18 GMT

I’m able to use my 2019 for my child credit but when I select it for my EITC it uses my 2020 income. Doesn’t matter how much I select use 2019 income.. it uses my 2020.

I was told to wait for a software update. After that I was told to wait for the IRS and turbo tax to update a form. Now I’m just waiting. 3 weeks and no help. I have an appointment with a live expert but the first one didn’t even help and I had to wait another 2 weeks for help.

Re: EITC and look back

CatinaT1 — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 13:22:53 GMT

In TurboTax, when you are in the earned income credit section, you will be asked if you want to use last year's earned income to calculate the credit.  If your earned income was greater in 2019 than in 2020, you may get a higher EITC credit by using 2019 earned income.  If your income was not higher in 2019, you will not qualify for this provision.

For more information see EIC Lookback.

Re: EITC and look back

Nicolesummer — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 13:29:34 GMT

Thanks for your reply.

as you have stated I’ve gone back through the earned income section multiple times and I’ve selected use 2019 income and alll of those times its used my 2020 income.

it worked fine with my child tax credit.
my earned income was def lower in 2020 at almost 8,000$ (27k for 2019) and I received unemployment pay as well but I know that unemployment is not earned income so I don’t know I’m not able to calculate my credit by my 2019 income. I will hate to have to take my taxes elsewhere for help.

Re: EITC and look back

AmyC — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 22:09:46 GMT

The higher of 2019 or 2020 is used for EIC. Your 2019 should be triggering the program. I wonder if you have some data stuck in your browser. Follow these steps and delete the EIC form.

Stuck information

Delete the form:
1. Open or continue your return in TurboTax.
2. In the left menu, select Tax Tools
3. then select Tools.
4. In the pop-up window named Tool Center,
5. choose Delete a form.
6. Select Delete next to the form/schedule/worksheet in the list and follow the instructions.
7. Log out of your return
8. Try one or more of the following:
  - Don't use Internet Explorer.
  - Clear cache and cookies,
  - Sign in using a different browser.
  - Sign in using a different device.
9. Log back into your return.
10. Enter the form again.