--- title: Key Facts about the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for 2017 description: You can determine if you can use the EITC on your tax returns by learning the key facts regarding this credit and for what purpose the IRS makes it available. image: https://www.toptaxdefenders.com/hubfs/understanding%20earned%20income%20tax.jpg --- [(866)866-1555](tel:866-866-1555) | [Contact](https://www.toptaxdefenders.com/contact-us) [![Top Tax Defenders](https://www.toptaxdefenders.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/nov_15/ttd_logo_test_new.png?width=314&height=64&name=ttd_logo_test_new.png "Top Tax Defenders")](https://www.toptaxdefenders.com) # Tax Matters - The Top Tax Defenders Blog # Key Facts about the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for 2017 By Top Tax Staff | Apr 12, 2017 7:00:00 AM | [Tax Credits and Deductions](https://www.toptaxdefenders.com/blog/topic/tax-credits-and-deductions) [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.toptaxdefenders.com%2Fblog%2Fkey-facts-about-the-earned-income-tax-credit-eitc-for-2017%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on LinkedIn](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/linkedin-24x24.png)](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.toptaxdefenders.com%2Fblog%2Fkey-facts-about-the-earned-income-tax-credit-eitc-for-2017%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dlinkedin) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.toptaxdefenders.com%2Fblog%2Fkey-facts-about-the-earned-income-tax-credit-eitc-for-2017%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.toptaxdefenders.com%2Fblog%2Fkey-facts-about-the-earned-income-tax-credit-eitc-for-2017%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Key%20Facts%20about%20the%20Earned%20Income%20Tax%20Credit%20%28EITC%29%20for%202017) [![Share on Pinterest](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/pinterest-24x24.png)](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.toptaxdefenders.com%2Fblog%2Fkey-facts-about-the-earned-income-tax-credit-eitc-for-2017%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dpinterest&media=) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.toptaxdefenders.com%2Fblog%2Fkey-facts-about-the-earned-income-tax-credit-eitc-for-2017%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.toptaxdefenders.com%2Fblog%2Fkey-facts-about-the-earned-income-tax-credit-eitc-for-2017%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ![understanding earned income tax](https://www.toptaxdefenders.com/hs-fs/hubfs/understanding%20earned%20income%20tax.jpg?width=724&name=understanding%20earned%20income%20tax.jpg "understanding earned income tax") The IRS offers a variety of credits and deductions designed to ease people's tax burdens. Out of all of them, the Earned Income Tax Credit, or EITC, many times proves to be the most lucrative. You can [determine if you can use the EITC](https://www.toptaxdefenders.com/blog/bid/189204/Get-a-Larger-Tax-Refund-With-the-Earned-Income-Tax-Credit-EITC) on your tax returns this year by learning the key facts regarding this credit and for what purpose the IRS makes it available. ### [![ARE YOU CLAIMING ALL THE TAX CREDITS YOU COULD BE? DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE COMPLETE GUIDE TO IRS TAX CREDITS »](https://hubspot-no-cache-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/139062/1127c4ea-4332-4cca-a2bb-33b200f10799.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/139062/1127c4ea-4332-4cca-a2bb-33b200f10799) ### What is the EITC? The Earned Income Tax Credit is a tax benefit that is designed to ease the tax burden of low to moderate income earners. It can be utilized by people who meet specific tax filing criteria as well as people whose incomes are so low that they are not required to file returns. [![Download our FREE guide to understanding and fighting IRS wage garnishments >>](https://hubspot-no-cache-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/139062/f94aabbc-85d7-4185-b16b-f54a3f1e986e.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/139062/f94aabbc-85d7-4185-b16b-f54a3f1e986e) In addition to being geared toward people with low to moderate incomes, the EITC can be utilized by people with children or who support certain groups of dependents. The credit not only eases eligible taxpayers' IRS burden; it can also provide them with a substantial refund each year they are eligible to claim it on their returns. ### Who Qualifies for the EITC? As noted, the EITC is designed to ease the burden of low to moderate income earners. However, it can also be utilized by: - non-traditional households like grandparents raising their grandchildren - people with declining incomes due to parental or marital status changes - people with limited English skills - people who live in rural areas - Native Americans - [people with disabilities](https://www.toptaxdefenders.com/blog/bid/189208/tax-benefits-for-disabled-taxpayers) - people raising children with disabilities Despite this tax credit being available to a wide array of taxpayers, many people who are eligible for it fail to utilize it when they file taxes. You can verify your own eligibility by reviewing the criteria online at [IRS.gov](http://www.irs.gov). [![DO YOU NEED IRS TAX HELP? SCHEDULE A FREE CONSULTATION WITH OUR TAX EXPERTS »](https://hubspot-no-cache-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/139062/758dc20d-7fa2-4e2a-a2ae-b124ff4cd561.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/139062/758dc20d-7fa2-4e2a-a2ae-b124ff4cd561) ### How Does the EITC Impact Your Return and Refund? Because the EITC can merit substantial tax refunds for eligible taxpayers, it increasingly is being misused by people who aim to take advantage of the IRS. People can misuse the EITC by fraudulently claiming dependents on their returns. For example, a person might claim his or her nieces and nephews as dependents when in fact they have already been claimed as dependents on their parents' returns. Alternatively, identity thieves increasingly are using other people's Social Security numbers to file returns and claim the EITC for themselves. The incidences of [identity theft are on the rise during tax time](https://www.toptaxdefenders.com/resources/tax-scams-and-schemes), prompting the IRS to implement new security measures. People who claim the EITC now can expect the processing of their returns to be delayed. This delay allows the IRS to verify the filers' personal information and ensure that the EITC tax refunds are going to the rightful taxpayers. The delay can prolong the processing of a return by several weeks. The IRS can also put a hold on a person's tax refund if it suspects that the person's identity has been stolen and a return has been wrongfully filed in that individual's name. People with low to moderate incomes often cannot afford to pay out large sums of money in taxes every year. To ease their burdens, the IRS offers the Earned Income Tax Credit that helps lower what they owe and could result in them being entitled to a refund. However, people entitled to this tax credit sometimes overlook their right to use it on their returns. In other cases, identity thieves use it to claim refunds that they are not owed. You can rightfully claim it on your returns this year by discovering for what purpose it exists and to what groups of taxpayers it is geared.   [![New Call to action](https://hubspot-no-cache-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/139062/285c066c-5c1b-41b4-b426-b5d1ecb0985d.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/139062/285c066c-5c1b-41b4-b426-b5d1ecb0985d) COMMENTS ### SUBSCRIBE VIA EMAIL ### POSTS BY TOPIC - [Tax Tips and Help (287)](https://www.toptaxdefenders.com/blog/topic/tax-tips-and-help) - [IRS Collections (121)](https://www.toptaxdefenders.com/blog/topic/irs-collections) - [IRS Audit (72)](https://www.toptaxdefenders.com/blog/topic/irs-audit) - [Tax Credits and Deductions (69)](https://www.toptaxdefenders.com/blog/topic/tax-credits-and-deductions) - [Tax Resolution (62)](https://www.toptaxdefenders.com/blog/topic/tax-resolution) - [Business Taxes (53)](https://www.toptaxdefenders.com/blog/topic/business-taxes) - [Back Taxes (51)](https://www.toptaxdefenders.com/blog/topic/back-taxes) - [Wage Garnishment (22)](https://www.toptaxdefenders.com/blog/topic/wage-garnishment) - [Tax Levies (19)](https://www.toptaxdefenders.com/blog/topic/tax-levies) - [IRS Payment Plans (15)](https://www.toptaxdefenders.com/blog/topic/irs-payment-plans) - [Tax Liens (14)](https://www.toptaxdefenders.com/blog/topic/tax-liens) - [Offer in Compromise (9)](https://www.toptaxdefenders.com/blog/topic/offer-in-compromise) - [Unfiled Tax Returns (9)](https://www.toptaxdefenders.com/blog/topic/unfiled-tax-returns) - [IRS Tax Attorneys (7)](https://www.toptaxdefenders.com/blog/topic/irs-tax-attorneys) - [Asset Seizure (6)](https://www.toptaxdefenders.com/blog/topic/asset-seizure) - [Tax Evasion (6)](https://www.toptaxdefenders.com/blog/topic/tax-evasion) - [Criminal Tax Defense (4)](https://www.toptaxdefenders.com/blog/topic/criminal-tax-defense) - [Innocent Spouse Relief (4)](https://www.toptaxdefenders.com/blog/topic/innocent-spouse-relief) [see all](https://www.toptaxdefenders.com/blog/key-facts-about-the-earned-income-tax-credit-eitc-for-2017#) ### RECENT ARTICLES ### POPULAR ARTICLES Aenean sollicitudin, lorem quis bibendum auctor, nisi elit consequat ipsum. 11222 Richmond Avenue Suite 235, Houston, TX 77082 Copyright 2026 Top Tax Defenders. 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