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Returning Member
posted Mar 3, 2021 1:45:17 PM

I can use 2019 earned income to qualify for earned income credit for 2020? no option on Turbotax

I qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) if I use my 2019 AGI

TURBOTAX is giving me the option to use 2019 for the Child Tax Credit (ACTC) but NOT the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).

I have tried the suggested (Click on “Jump to EIC”...) Still TURBOTAX says I don't qualify.

 

Again I'm given an option to use my 2019 but only for the child credit and not "Earned income" which continues to say I don't qualify.

How can I solve this? It's the software issue and I'm stuck.

 

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1 Replies
Expert Alumni
Mar 4, 2021 6:26:10 AM

 If your earned income was higher in 2019 than in 2020, you can use the 2019 amount to figure your EITC for 2020. This temporary relief is provided through the Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020.

 

To claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), you must have what qualifies as earned income and meet certain adjusted gross income (AGI) and credit limits for the current, previous and upcoming tax years

 

Earned Income and Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Tables | Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov)

 

You can go to the earned income credit section in Deductions and Credits. 

 

You still MUST enter all of your 2020 income into your 2020 tax return, including any unemployment you received.

 

Please follow these steps in TurboTax:

  1. Login to your TurboTax Account 
  2. Click on the Search box on the top and type "EIC"
  3. Click on “Jump to EIC”
  4. Answer the questions until you reach the screen "Do you want to use last year’s earned income?"
  5. Note your current refund amount using your 2020 earned income at the top of the screen.
  6. Click "Yes", enter your "2019 Earned Income" if the field is blank and click "continue".
  7. Compare the new refund amount using your 2019 earned income with the previously noted refund amount using your 2020 earned income.

I want to use my 2019 tax return to file for 2020 ... (intuit.com)