Why is my Earned Income Credit (EIC) so low when I only make $14,000?

The Earned Income Credit (EIC) amount depends on your exact income and phases out as your income increases. For 2024 (filing in 2025), the maximum EIC for a single filer with no qualifying children is $560, but you only get that maximum amount if your income falls in the "sweet spot" range. The credit starts phasing out at around $9,800 and completely phases out at about $17,000 for single filers with no children. If you're making $19,000, you're actually above the complete phase-out threshold, so getting $146 actually sounds like you might be right at the edge of qualifying at all. Check if you have any other income sources that might be pushing you higher in the calculation. Things like unemployment compensation, interest from bank accounts, or even some retirement distributions count toward the income that determines your EIC amount.

I had almost the exact same situation last year! I was getting a tiny EIC and couldn't figure out why. I finally used taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) to analyze my returns from the last few years, and it immediately spotted that I was getting caught in the phase-out range. The tool showed me exactly how my side income was affecting the calculations and explained the income thresholds in a way that actually made sense. It also identified a couple deductions I was missing that helped offset the lower EIC. Totally worth checking out if you're confused about why your refund doesn't match what you expected.

Just wanted to update after trying taxr.ai that the other user recommended. It was really eye-opening! The system analyzed my returns and showed me exactly why my EIC was dropping - turns out I had some investment income from a small account I'd forgotten about that was pushing me further into the phase-out range. The analysis also showed me that I was missing a deduction for my health insurance premiums since I'm self-employed part of the year. Making that adjustment boosted my refund by $340! Still not getting the full EIC but at least now I understand why and found other ways to reduce my tax bill.

If you're really concerned about your tax situation and want to talk to an actual IRS agent about your EIC, I highly recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was in a similar situation last year - my EIC was way less than expected and I was going to owe for the first time. After spending DAYS trying to get through to the IRS myself (constant busy signals and disconnections), I found Claimyr and they got me connected to an IRS rep in about 20 minutes. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. The agent I spoke with explained exactly how my EIC was calculated and confirmed I wasn't missing anything. Saved me so much stress!

I have to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After my skeptical comment, I decided to try it anyway since I was desperate to talk to someone about my tax situation. The service actually worked exactly as described - I got a call back in about 30 minutes and was connected directly to an IRS representative. The agent explained that my EIC was lower because my unemployment compensation from last year counts as income for the EIC calculation, which pushed me further into the phase-out range. She also verified I was claiming all the credits I was eligible for. Worth every penny not to spend hours on hold just to get this information!

Just FYI, there's a "sweet spot" for the EIC where you get the maximum benefit. The credit actually increases as you earn more income at first, then peaks, and then starts decreasing until it phases out completely. For 2024 returns (filing in 2025), if you're single with no kids: The EIC starts increasing from $0 of income Reaches maximum around $7,800-$9,800 Then decreases until it completely phases out around $17,000 So making $19,000 puts you above the phase-out limit, which explains your low amount. It's designed to benefit very low-income workers the most.

Has anyone used TurboTax to calculate their EIC? I'm having the same issue with a low credit amount and wondering if the software might be calculating it wrong. I've used TT for years but this is the first time I've qualified for EIC.

I'm dealing with a similar situation and found that many people don't realize the EIC has very specific income ranges where it provides maximum benefit. Based on what everyone's shared here, it sounds like your $19,000 income is putting you right at the phase-out threshold. One thing that helped me understand my situation better was requesting a transcript of my tax account from the IRS website. It shows exactly how they calculated my EIC and breaks down all the income sources they used. You might discover there's additional income being counted that you forgot about - even small amounts like bank interest or cash app earnings can push you over the optimal EIC range. Also, if you're doing food delivery work, make sure you're deducting legitimate business expenses like mileage, phone bills, and delivery bags. While this won't directly increase your EIC (since it's based on earned income before business deductions), it can reduce your overall tax liability and increase your refund in other ways.