What qualifies a person to receive the California Earned Income Tax Credit?

[zachary0526]

How do I know whether or not I qualify for the California Earned Income Tax Credit?

[AnnetteB6 · Accepted solution]

If you use TurboTax to file your Federal and California returns, the qualifications for the California Earned Income Tax Credit will be applied for you or you may see some questions that need to be answered along the way in order to claim the credit.  

In general, here are the qualifications (from this website Eligibility and credit information CalEITC:(

To qualify for CalEITC you must meet all of the following requirements during the tax year:

• You’re at least 18 years old or have a qualifying child
• Have earned income of at least $1 and not more than $32,900
• Have a valid Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) for you, your spouse/RDP, and any qualifying children
• Live in California for more than half the filing year
• Not be eligible to be claimed as a qualifying child of another taxpayer
• Not be eligible to be claimed as a dependent of another taxpayer unless you have a qualifying child

Married/registered domestic partner (RDP) filing separately filers must meet all of the following requirements:

• Had a qualifying child who lived with you for more than half of the tax year, and:
  • You lived apart from your spouse/RDP for the last 6 months of the tax year, or
  • You are legally separated by state law under a written separation agreement or a decree of separate maintenance and you did not live in the same household as your spouse/RDP at the end of the tax year

There is also an online resource you can use to determine the amount of California Earned Income Tax Credit you may qualify to receive.  Use this link:  

Earned Income Tax Credit Calculator