If you live and work in California there may be other refundable credits in addition to your federal credits that may be available to you. Use our checklist to see if you qualify!
California Earned Income Credit
Much like the federal Earned Income Credit, the California Earned Income Credit is a refundable credit available to taxpayers who live in California and have earned income between $1 and $30,000. What makes the California EIC special is that you can have either a social security number (SSN) or an individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN). The credit can be worth up to $3,417.
To qualify for the CA EIC, you must:
- File a CA income tax return
- Be at least 18 years old or have a child
- Have earned income between $1 and $30,000
- Have a Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number for you, your spouse if married, and for any qualifying children
- Have lived in California for at least half of the tax year
- Not be a dependent of another person
Young Child Tax Credit
California also has a Young Child Tax Credit that is available for Californians who qualify for the CA EIC and have a dependent child under 6 years old. If you meet these two requirements, the Young Child Tax Credit provides a credit up to $1,083 per tax return.
California Child and Dependent Care Credit
If you paid for child care while you worked or looked for work, you may also qualify for the California Child and Dependent Care Credit. This credit is non-refundable (meaning it can only reduce the amount of taxes you owe) but can be worth up to $500 for one child and $1,000 for two or more. Get more information about this credit here.
