California State Tax Credits
Whether California offers its own Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) on top of the federal one.
How This Works
The federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) works the same way regardless of which state you live in — up to $8,231 for the 2026 tax year, depending on income and qualifying children. What varies by state is whether your state also gives you a credit on your state tax return, usually calculated as a percentage of whatever federal EITC you qualify for. State legislatures change these rates fairly often, so always confirm the current rate on your state's own tax site before filing.
California's State EITC
California’s CalEITC is calculated independently of the federal credit, but works out to roughly 46.5% of the federal maximum for most filers.
✓ California extends this credit to ITIN filers, even though the federal EITC requires a Social Security Number.
Confirm on California Franchise Tax Board →See every federal tax credit California residents can claim
The federal EITC is just one of 8 federal credits on our full tool — Child Tax Credit, education credits, retirement savings credit, and more, all available regardless of which state you live in.
See All Federal Tax Credits →