EITC in 2021

[Greta]

Quite a few of my single (no qualifying children) clients will be eligible for the 2021 EITC. Does anyone know what earned income produces the maximum credit of $1502?

[Just-Lisa-Now-]

I doubt anyone has this memorized, especially for 2021.

You'd need to pull up the EITC charts on the IRS website, just like anyone else.

[TaxGuyBill · Accepted solution]

$9,820 to $11,610 is the peak range for a single person with no kids.

[Greta]

Thank you! I really searched and could not find this info. I'm a bit curious how you found it, but ever so grateful!

[Just-Lisa-Now-]

Heres the 2020 tables

https://www.irs.gov/publications/p596#d0e5489

the max is only $538 with zero kids.....did it really increase almost 3 fold ($1502) for 2021?

[TaxGuyBill]

It's a bunch of gibberish, but here is the new section of the law:

‘‘(3) INCREASE IN CREDIT AND PHASEOUT PERCENTAGES.—The table contained in subsection (b)(1) shall be applied by substituting ‘15.3’ for ‘7.65’ each place it appears therein.

‘‘(4) INCREASE IN EARNED INCOME AND PHASEOUT AMOUNTS.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The table contained in
subsection (b)(2)(A) shall be applied—
‘‘(i) by substituting ‘$9,820’ for ‘$4,220’, and
‘‘(ii) by substituting ‘$11,610’ for ‘$5,280’.

In a nutshell, you get a 15.3% credit if your income is up to $9820, it stays at that amount until $11,610, then it starts phasing down after that.

It is fairly simple calculation for a single person with no kids (well, after you decipher what the legal gibberish means), but the numbers/calculations aren't quite as easy with kids.

[Greta]

Yes, it increased to $1502 but just for tax year 2021 I believe. Perhaps there are no tables published yet. I'm impressed that our colleague found the calculation needed. Among my clients who are self-employed, this will equal what they owe in self-employment taxes. Not a coincidence that 15.3% is used in the EITC calculus? In past years this was a big hit for self-employed folks.