EITC Child Tax Credit 2027: The IRS just raised the two credits that matter most to working families. For tax year 2027, the maximum Earned Income Tax Credit climbs to $8,496 for families with three or more children, and the Child Tax Credit rises to $2,300 per child. Both increases were announced November 5, 2026, in IRS release IR-2026-133 and Revenue Procedure 2026-35.
But read the dates before you do anything with these numbers. They are tax year 2027 figures, which means they apply to income earned in 2027 and returns filed in 2028. The return you file in spring 2027 still uses the 2026 amounts. Get that wrong and you will claim money the IRS will not pay.
What the IRS announced
The November 5 announcement covers nearly 70 inflation-adjusted tax figures for 2027. The headline numbers for families are the two credits: the EITC maximum rises $265, from $8,231 to $8,496, and the Child Tax Credit rises $100, from $2,200 to $2,300 per qualifying child. The refundable part of the Child Tax Credit — the amount that can come back as cash even if you owe no tax — also rises $100, to $1,800.
The standard deduction is rising too, to $16,600 for single filers and $33,200 for married couples filing jointly, but the credits are the part that puts money directly back in a working family’s pocket.
EITC 2027: the new maximums and income limits
The EITC is a credit for people who work and earn modest incomes, and the amount depends on how many qualifying children you have. For 2027 the maximums are $685 with no children, $4,573 with one child, $7,552 with two children, and $8,496 with three or more.
To get the full credit you need a minimum amount of earned income: $8,960 with no children, $13,450 with one child, and $18,880 with two or more. Earn less than that and the credit is smaller, because the EITC phases in as your earnings rise.
It also phases out. For families with children, the phase-out starts at $24,660 of income for single filers and heads of household, and $32,170 for married couples filing jointly. With three or more children the credit disappears entirely at $65,002 for single filers and $72,512 for joint filers. And there is a hard ceiling many people miss: if your investment income — interest, dividends and similar — tops $12,600 in 2027, you cannot claim the EITC at all, no matter how low your wages are.
Child Tax Credit 2027: $2,300 per child, $1,800 refundable
The Child Tax Credit is simpler. For 2027 it is worth up to $2,300 per qualifying child, and up to $1,800 of that per child can be refunded even if you owe no federal income tax. A family with two qualifying children can therefore be looking at $4,600 in credit, with up to $3,600 of it refundable.
A qualifying child must be under 17 at the end of 2027 and have a valid Social Security number issued before the return’s due date. The credit starts phasing out at $200,000 of income for single filers and $400,000 for married couples filing jointly — thresholds that have not changed.
The tax-year trap: don’t use 2027 numbers on your spring return
This is the part that catches people every year. The return filed in spring 2027 covers income earned in 2026, so it uses the 2026 figures: a maximum EITC of $8,231, a Child Tax Credit of $2,200, and a refundable portion of $1,700. The new $8,496 and $2,300 figures do not apply until the return you file in early 2028.
Tax software will normally handle this for you, but if you are estimating a refund by hand, or a preparer quotes you a 2027 number for a 2026 return, stop and check the tax year. Claiming the higher amount a year early is one of the easiest ways to get a notice from the IRS.
Can you claim both credits?
Yes — and many families should. The EITC and the Child Tax Credit are separate credits, and the same child can qualify you for both. A working parent with two children earning around $19,000 could claim the full $7,552 EITC plus $4,600 in Child Tax Credit for 2027. That combination is exactly why the IRS’s November announcement matters more to low- and middle-income households than the new tax brackets do.
What to do now: nothing changes on your next return, but keep the 2027 figures in mind when you plan. If your income is near a phase-out line, small changes — extra overtime, a side job, a raise — can move your credit by hundreds of dollars. And when filing season opens in January 2027, remember it is still the 2026 numbers that count.
FAQ: EITC and Child Tax Credit 2027
What is the maximum EITC for 2027?
$8,496 for families with three or more qualifying children; $7,552 with two, $4,573 with one, $685 with none. The amounts come from IRS Revenue Procedure 2026-35, announced November 5, 2026.
How much is the Child Tax Credit in 2027?
Up to $2,300 per qualifying child under 17, with up to $1,800 refundable. It was $2,200 per child in 2026, with $1,700 refundable.
When do the 2027 EITC and Child Tax Credit amounts apply?
To income earned in calendar 2027, claimed on returns filed in early 2028. The return filed in spring 2027 uses the 2026 figures: $8,231 maximum EITC and a $2,200 Child Tax Credit.
What is the EITC income limit for 2027?
With three or more children the credit phases out completely at $65,002 for single filers and heads of household, and $72,512 for married couples filing jointly. Investment income above $12,600 disqualifies you entirely.
Can I claim both the EITC and the Child Tax Credit?
Yes. They are separate credits and the same child can qualify for both, as long as you meet each credit’s own rules.
Sources
- IRS News Release IR-2026-133, November 5, 2026 (irs.gov/newsroom/ir-2026-133)
- IRS Revenue Procedure 2026-35 (irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rp-26-35.pdf)
- IRS EITC income limits and maximum credit tables, tax year 2027