California Benefit

California Earned Income Tax Credit

Also known as: CalEITC

CalEITC is a refundable state tax credit for low-income working Californians, providing cash back even with no tax liability.

At a Glance

  • Must have earned income of at least $1.
  • Earned income must be $30,950 or less (2024 tax year).No limit on number of qualifying children.
  • Must be at least 18 years old.
  • Must be a California resident for more than half of thetax year.
  • + 2 more requirements below

Eligibility Requirements

Earned Income

Required

Must have earned income of at least $1.

earned_income > 1 dollars

Income Limit

Required

Earned income must be $30,950 or less (2024 tax year).No limit on number of qualifying children.

earned_income ≤ 30950 dollars

Age Requirement

Required

Must be at least 18 years old.

age ≥ 18

California Residency

Required

Must be a California resident for more than half of thetax year.

state_residency = CA

SSN or ITIN

Required

Must have a valid SSN or Individual Taxpayer IdentificationNumber (ITIN). Unlike federal EITC, ITINs are accepted.

has_itin_or_ssn = true

Not a Dependent

Required

Cannot be claimed as a dependent on another return.

can_be_claimed_as_dependent = false

Ruleset effective: 2024-01-01

Quick Info

Agency
FTB
Category
Tax
Last Verified
2026-01-13

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Apply for California Earned Income Tax Credit