2027 Tax Refund: How Families Could Claim Up to $7,316

A tax credit worth up to $7,316 could help eligible working families with two qualifying children when they file their returns in 2027. The amount comes from the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for income earned in 2026, but not every household will receive the maximum.

The credit depends on earnings, filing status and eligibility. The Congressional Research Service’s EITC overview explains how the program supports eligible workers and families.
 

Which Families Could Qualify?

Applicants must have earned income, such as wages, tips or self-employment income. For households with two qualifying children, the 2026 credit phases out completely at:

• $65,899 for married couples filing jointly.

• $58,629 for single filers, heads of household and qualifying surviving spouses.

Earning less than these amounts does not guarantee a $7,316 credit. The benefit rises with earnings at lower income levels, reaches its maximum and then decreases as income increases. A 2026 EITC income-limit table provides a breakdown by filing status and household size.

Children must satisfy the IRS’s relationship, age and residency requirements, including generally living with the taxpayer in the United States for more than half the year. Applicable Social Security number requirements must also be met. Families can review the full rules through the IRS’s EITC eligibility guidance.

How to Claim the Credit

Families must file a 2026 federal tax return in 2027 using Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR. Those claiming qualifying children must also attach Schedule EIC. The IRS’s guide to claiming the EITC explains the required forms.

Because the credit is refundable, eligible taxpayers may receive money even if they owe little or no federal income tax. It first reduces any tax owed, and the remaining amount can become part of the refund. It is not an automatic payment to every family with two children.
 

When Could the Refund Arrive?

Refunds that include the EITC cannot be issued before mid-February. That restriction applies to the entire refund, not just the amount associated with the credit.

A refund is not guaranteed to arrive immediately after that date. Timing depends on when the return is filed, how it is processed and whether additional review is required.

Taxpayers can check the IRS’s refund-timing guidance and track their refund through Where’s My Refund?.

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