Claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a tax credit for people who work and whose earned income is within a certain range. You must meet certain eligibility rules to claim and receive the credit. They include filing a tax return even if you generally don’t have to, having income within a certain range, your filing status, and whether you’re claiming a qualifying child.