The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a refundable credit primarily for lower-income individuals and couples with qualifying children. The credit first offsets the tax liability of the taxpayer(s), and any credit left over is fully refundable. So individuals can receive a refund far in excess of the amount of taxes they had withheld. The credit can be as much as $6,044 for a taxpayer with three children.