Families With Two Children Could Claim Up to $7,316 in 2027
- Author: Wilbert Raynor
- Posted: 2026-10-15
For working families with two qualifying children, filing a tax return in 2027 could mean claiming up to $7,316 through the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). That figure is the maximum for the 2026 tax year, not a guaranteed refund. How much a household receives depends on its earnings, filing status and eligibility, as outlined in the Congressional Research Service’s EITC overview.
Who Could Qualify?
Families must have earned income, such as wages, tips or self-employment earnings, and meet the applicable income limits. For 2026, the credit for households with two qualifying children reaches zero at:
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$65,899 for married couples filing jointly.
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$58,629 for single filers, heads of household and qualifying surviving spouses.
The credit increases with earnings at lower income levels, reaches a maximum and then gradually decreases. Being below the income cutoff does not automatically qualify a family for the full $7,316. See the 2026 EITC income-limit table for a breakdown by filing status and number of children.
Children must also meet the IRS’s relationship, age and residency rules, including generally living with the taxpayer in the United States for more than half the year. Taxpayers, qualifying children and spouses on joint returns must meet the applicable Social Security number requirements. Families should review the IRS EITC eligibility guidance before claiming the credit.
How to Claim the Credit
Eligible taxpayers must file a 2026 federal income tax return in 2027 using Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR. Families claiming qualifying children must also complete Schedule EIC, according to the IRS’s application instructions.
The EITC is refundable: it can reduce the tax owed, and any remaining credit may become part of the refund. It is not a separate payment automatically sent to households with children.
When Could the Money Arrive?
The IRS cannot issue refunds that include the EITC before mid-February. This legal restriction applies to the entire refund, including portions unrelated to the credit. It does not guarantee that a refund will arrive immediately after that date.
Families can review the IRS’s refund-timing guidance and check their refund’s progress through Where’s My Refund?. Processing times vary, particularly if a return needs additional review.
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