Earned Income Credit

[mchristine2164]

How do I override the automatic EIC calculation?  It is calculating our joint income, but my son qualifies on my income alone due to a divorce.

[xmasbaby0]

Not sure what you are trying to do or what you mean by "my income alone."   If you are filing a joint return with your spouse then your eligibility for EIC is based on your joint income.   If you file married filing separately you are not eligible for EIC at all under the tax laws.

[rjs]

If you were already divorced at the end of 2020, you cannot file a joint tax return. Your ex-spouse's income should not be in your tax return at all.

If you were still married at the end of 2020, and you are filing a joint tax return, your EIC has to be based on your joint income.

I don't understand what you mean by "my son qualifies." Whether your son is a qualifying child for EIC has nothing to do with your income, joint or separate. Or are you talking about your son being able to qualify for EIC on his own tax return?

[AmeliesUncle]

Are you using your "prior year" Earned Income for calculating the Earned Income Credit?

If so, you are correct, if you were divorced in 2020 you only use YOUR "earned income" from 2019, not your joint earned income from 2019.

As for how to enter that, perhaps the others can assist you with that.