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Level 3
posted Jan 28, 2020 1:26:50 PM

Tax Year Prior to 2020: Earned Income Credit

What counts as earned income? If I don't have any traditional income, but I make $100 babysitting or something similar to that would I be able to claim the credit?

0 18 5719
18 Replies
Expert Alumni
Jan 28, 2020 1:49:11 PM

Earned income is money you work for, as opposed to passive income like interest and dividends. Income from a business like babysitting would qualify as earned income.

 

For further information please see the TurboTax website: What is earned income?

Level 15
Jan 28, 2020 4:49:20 PM

The earned income credit you  can get is based upon the amount of income you earn.  Your EIC for earning $100 would be quite small, even if you qualify for EIC.

 

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

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

 

New Member
Mar 4, 2020 4:13:53 PM

I didn’t receive any earned income credit, how can I amend this, so I receive the credit

New Member
Mar 4, 2020 4:15:46 PM

Will some reply to me?

Expert Alumni
Mar 4, 2020 4:33:41 PM

If you earned $100 for babysitting, then you will not get any earned income credit. The amount you earned is not enough to meet the qualification requirements for earned income credit.

Level 15
Mar 4, 2020 5:05:09 PM

@Kvam2554 Read through this whole thread.  There are already links to the earned income qualifications and to the IRS tool which you can use to to see if you could get EIC.

Returning Member
Mar 7, 2020 7:21:02 PM

I am less then $200 dollars over to receive EIC I have 2 kids is there a way to decrease my income by 200 to get the credit?    

Expert Alumni
Mar 7, 2020 7:38:23 PM

No there is no way to reduce your earned income, especially for the purpose of getting a tax credit.

@jimmy75

New Member
Mar 10, 2020 7:20:06 AM

I already filed on Turbotax but I didnt click onto EIC. Will I still get it if I qualify?

Expert Alumni
Mar 10, 2020 7:29:50 AM

Yes. When you enter your information, TurboTax automatically calculates the Earned Income Credit if you are eligible. The reason is that the IRS will either send you a note that you are eligible for the EIC for you to calculate it or will automatically calculate it for you and apply it to your return if you are eligible.  

Level 15
Mar 10, 2020 7:32:18 AM


@shepba wrote:

I already filed on Turbotax but I didnt click onto EIC. Will I still get it if I qualify?


If you were eligible for the EIC then the credit would be calculated automatically and entered on your tax return.  If you are receiving a tax refund the credit would be included in the refund or if you have taxes owed the credit would have reduced the amount of the taxes owed.

 

Look at your federal tax return Form 1040 on Line 18a.  If there is an amount entered then you received the EIC.

 

To access your current or prior year online tax returns sign onto the TurboTax website with the userID you used to create the account - https://myturbotax.intuit.com/

 

When you sign onto your online account and land on the Tax Home web page, scroll down and click on Add a state. 

This will take you back to the 2019 online tax return.

Click on Tax Tools on the left side of the online program screen.  Then click on Print Center.  Then click on Print, save or preview this year's return

New Member
Apr 8, 2020 12:08:32 AM

how do i submit the earned income credit form

Level 15
Apr 8, 2020 6:48:20 AM

@dinodon143  - You don't submit an EIC form.  You enter your info and TurboTax (TT) automatically calculates the EIC for you.  Your EIC amount goes on line 18a of form 1040.  If you have kids, TT  also prepares schedule EIC,

 

If you think TT missed it,  In TurboTax (TT), enter at:

Federal Taxes Tab (Personal for H&B version)

Deductions & Credits

-Scroll down to:

-You and your family

    --Earned Income Credit

Level 2
Jul 19, 2020 5:35:15 PM

TuboTax Is Wrong re Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

 

TuboTax 2019 Home & Business downloadable PC software’s pop up “On Demand Tax Guidance” incorrectly states:

If you do not have a qualifying child, you (and your spouse if filing a joint return):

- Must be at least 25 years old and under age 65 at the end of the tax year

 

Here is the correct statement from the IRS

You (or your spouse if filing a joint return) must have been at least 25 but under 65 years old at the end of the tax year.

 

The difference: “or your spouse” not “and your spouse”

https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit/do-i-qualify-for-earned-income-tax-credit-eitc

New Member
Jan 29, 2022 12:14:33 PM

what is form 8862

 

Level 15
Jan 29, 2022 12:21:57 PM
New Member
Feb 2, 2022 6:13:55 AM

What if I don’t recall filing for earned income credit but I received it anyways is that why my return is higher than normal

Level 15
Feb 2, 2022 6:17:10 AM

@ktlindsey98  If you qualify to get earned income credit the software adds it to your return automatically.   You will see it on line 27a of your 2021 Form 1040.

 

PREVIEW 1040

 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901539-how-do-i-preview-my-turbotax-online-return-before-filing

Click on Tax Tools on the left side of the screen. Click on Tools. Click on View Tax Summary. Click on Preview my 1040 on the left side of the screen.