Areas of Emphasis
Around 60% of all mistakes in EITC are the results of 3 main areas:
1. Claiming a Child Who Does Not Qualify:
Errors often arise in determining whether a child meets the eligibility criteria for EITC. The child must pass all qualifying tests: relationship, age, residency, and joint return
2. Filing Status Errors:
Incorrectly claiming a filing status, such as Head of Household or Married Filing Jointly, is a common mistake.
3. Income Reporting Errors:
Misreporting earned income or incorrectly calculating self-employment income impacts the credit amount.
The people who are eligible for EITC:
1. Have earned income
2. Have a valid Social Security Number
3. Must file as Single, Married Filing Jointly, Head of Household, or Qualifying Widow(er)
4. Must be a U.S. citizen or resident alien for the entire year
5. Are not a qualifying child of another person
6. Investment income must be $11,000 or less for the tax year