Personal Finance Insider writes about products, strategies, and tips to help you make smart decisions with your money. We may receive a small commission from our partners, like American Express, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective. The earned income credit is a refundable tax credit — i.e. a lump sum of money "refunded" to taxpayers by the IRS — for those earning a low-to-moderate income. For the 2020 tax year, the minimum credit is $538 and the maximum is $6,660. The amount of earned income credit you're eligible to receive will depend on your annual income and the number of qualifying children in your household.