Who is Eligible?
Eligibility for both the federal and state EITC is based on your earned income and you must file a tax return to qualify, whether you are required to or not. For tax year 2020, families and individuals who earned wages or self-employment income up to $30,000 may qualify for CalEITC. If your wages are more than $30,000, you may still be eligible for the federal EITC.
- Workers with incomes up to $30,000
- Individuals and families whose income does not require them to file taxes
- Families with children age six and under
- Seniors ages 65+
- Young adults ages 18-24
- Self-employed workers
- NEW: Undocumented ITIN filers who are otherwise eligible
Review the chart below to see how much you may get when you file your tax year 2020 return.
2020 CalEITC
Number of qualifying children |
California maximum income |
CalEITC (up to) |
IRS EITC (up to) |
None |
$30,000 |
$243 |
$538 |
1 |
$30,000 |
$1,626 |
$3,584 |
2 |
$30,000 |
$2,691 |
$5,920 |
3 or more |
$30,000 |
$3,027 |
$6,660 |
The Young Child Tax Credit was introduced in tax year 2019. If you qualify for CalEITC and have a child under the age of 6 as of the end of the tax year, you may qualify for up to $1,000 through this credit.
Get Your Cashback Credit
Interested in getting money back this tax season? Call 2-1-1 to learn about CalEITC!
FREE Tax Preparation
Don’t pay to have your taxes prepared! If you earned less than $66,000 in 2020, call 2-1-1 to schedule a no-cost tax assistance appointment at a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site! Due to COVID-19, additional safety protocols will be in place at in-person sites. Select sites will also offer drop-off and drive-up services.
Visit https://www.myfreetaxes.org/online for free online self-filing. There is no income limit to file online.
Avoid a Tax Penalty
Effective January 1, 2020, California residents must maintain minimum essential health care coverage for themselves and their dependents. You may have to pay a penalty when filing your tax return unless you have minimum essential health care coverage.
Subsidies are available through Covered California and we can help you find a plan that fits your needs and budget.
Learn More
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