Can I qualify for EIC if I have my grandchildren in my care for half the year?

[xmasbaby0]

Maybe---but we do not have enough information.   Try the IRS tool to see if you can claim them... And of course, earned income credit is based on income from working.  

IRS interview to help determine who can be claimed:

https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/who-can-i-claim-as-a-dependent

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1899157-what-are-the-qualifications-for-the-earned-income-credit-e...

https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit/use-the-eitc-assistant

[ThomasM125]

The grandchildren would have to qualify as your dependent for you to receive an earned income credit (EIC). The basic qualifications for that is they would have to live in your home that you maintain for over half the year and they cannot provide over 1/2 half of their own support. Also, they would have to be under age 19 or a full-time student or disabled, and not claimed as dependents by anyone else. Furthermore you need earned income to qualify for the earned income credit. You can find more about the earned income credit here:  Earned Income Tax Credit

[Edited 2/13/24 at 10:00 AM PST] @Tonya6769

[Opus 17]

1. The children must live in your home more than half the nights of the year (183 or more nights).  182 or fewer nights is not enough.  In Turbotax, if they did live with you more than half, select "7 months".  Turbotax thinks "6 months" means exactly half, and exactly half is not more than half.

2. You must have income earned from working, and not have too much unearned income.  That means you or your spouse must be working a job, and not taking a pension or social security.  If you are retired and not working, you don't have earned income even if you have taxable income.  

3. Be sure to select "grandchild" from the type of dependent, not "someone else."  

4.  You don't have to provide more than half the child's support, that test is for a different type of dependent.  Instead, the child must provide less than half their own support.  It doesn't matter who pays the child;s support as long as it is not the child themself.