If I only made under $1,000 for the whole 2017 year would I still get a tax return?

[momiles82]

I have two dependents, two of my sons, ages six and eleven who lived with me the whole year of 2017 and still live with me. 

[xmasbaby0 · Accepted solution]

When you enter your dependents and your income into your tax return, TT automatically calculates the child tax credit, additional child tax credit, and includes EIC if you qualify for it. So if you qualified for EIC it is already showing in your refund. If you do not understand the amount of EIC you are receiving, please look at the chart for EIC—look for the number of children you claimed and your income, and you will see how much EIC you are supposed to be getting.  

There is a table that starts on page 30 of IRS publication 596 regarding EIC and the amount you can receive for your earned income:

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p596.pdf

The amount of EIC you are receiving can be seen on your tax return:

1040EZ on line 8a

on 1040A line 42a

on 1040 line 66a

The IRS offers a tool to help you estimate your EIC:

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

https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit

[momiles82]

Thank You Very Much!!!! I greatly appreciate all your help! You are really nice!!!

[xmasbaby0]

You are welcome!

[xmasbaby0]

If the only income you had from working in 2017 was $1000, you could get about $400 in earned income credit with two children.  But someone else must have been supporting you and your children.  Is that person going to claim you and the two children?

[momiles82]

No, my other income for 2017 is child support. Child support is not taxed.

[xmasbaby0]

Then file a tax return claiming your income and your dependents.  When you enter your dependents and your W-2, Turbotax will automatically calculate  your earned income credit and add it to your refund.

[momiles82]

So in doing this can I still probably get about $200-$300 tax return even though I only made under $1,000 with my job income, meaning I didn't pay a lot in taxes as compared to the previous year making over $10,000 the previous year?