Colorado Earned Income Tax Credit Calculator

Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham. State percentage sourced from the Colorado Department of Revenue. Last verified 15 July 2026.

Figure basis: Official Colorado Department of Revenue

The Colorado earned income tax credit (EITC) is a state credit for working people with low to moderate income, set as 25% of your federal EITC. This calculator estimates your federal EITC from your earned income, filing status, and number of qualifying children using the IRS 2026 tables, then applies the Colorado rule to give your state credit. The Colorado credit is refundable. Enter your details to see both your estimated federal EITC and your Colorado credit. Figures are an estimate: the IRS computes the federal credit from $50 income bands, so your exact credit may differ by a few dollars. The state percentage is sourced from Colorado Department of Revenue and verified for 2026.

A single filer in Colorado with 2 children earning $25,000 has an estimated federal EITC of $7,082.23 and a Colorado credit of $1,770.56 (25% of the federal credit).

State rate source: Colorado Department of Revenue, tax year 2026, as at Jul 15, 2026. Federal EITC per IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Earned income (USD) Wages, salary and self-employment income

Filing status Joint filers have higher phase-out thresholds

Qualifying children Children who meet the IRS qualifying-child tests

Estimated federal EITC$7,082.23

Colorado credit rate25%

Colorado EITC$1,770.56

How the Colorado EITC works

The Colorado credit is built on the federal EITC. First the federal credit is found from your earned income, filing status, and qualifying children (it phases in, plateaus at a maximum, then phases out as income rises). Then Colorado applies 25% of your federal EITC. The Colorado credit is refundable, so if it is larger than the state tax you owe, you receive the difference as a refund.

federal EITC = phase-in, plateau, then phase-out per the IRS 2026 tables
Colorado EITC = federal EITC x Colorado percentage

Colorado's match is back to 25% after three years at 50%

Colorado sets its earned income tax credit as a percentage of the federal EITC, and for tax year 2026 that percentage is 25%. The important context is that it was not always this figure: the state ran a temporary 50% match for tax years 2023, 2024, and 2025, so a Colorado filer who claimed the credit last year and expects the same result will see roughly half as much this year for identical federal numbers. That is the single most common mistake with this credit right now.

The rate is also unusually changeable. Colorado law lets the percentage climb above 25% in a year when state revenue growth is strong enough to trigger a temporary increase, a mechanism tied to the state's revenue limits. The safe habit is to confirm the current-year percentage before filing rather than assuming last year's rate simply rolled over.

The credit is refundable, which matters most for the lowest earners: if the Colorado amount is larger than the state income tax you owe, the balance comes back to you as a refund rather than just zeroing out your bill. Enter your earned income, filing status, and number of qualifying children above, and the calculator applies the 25% rate to your computed federal EITC to give you the Colorado figure.

Colorado EITC: frequently asked questions

How much is the Colorado earned income tax credit?

The Colorado EITC is 25% of your federal EITC. For example, a single filer with 2 children earning $25,000 has an estimated federal EITC of $7,082.23 and a Colorado credit of about $1,770.56. Enter your own details above for your figure.

Is the Colorado EITC refundable?

The Colorado credit is refundable, so if it is larger than the state tax you owe, you receive the difference as a refund.

Do I qualify for the Colorado earned income credit?

Generally, if you qualify for the federal EITC you also qualify for the Colorado credit, which is based on it. You need earned income, a valid Social Security number, and investment income under the federal limit ($12,200 for 2026). Colorado's EITC is 25% of the federal credit for tax year 2026 (Colorado Department of Revenue); the 50% rate applied only to tax years 2023-2025. The percentage can rise above 25% in a year when state revenue growth triggers a temporary increase.

How is the Colorado EITC calculated?

First your federal EITC is computed from your earned income, filing status, and number of qualifying children using the IRS 2026 tables. Then Colorado applies 25% of your federal EITC. This calculator does both steps for you.

Official sources

Colorado EITC percentage and refundability: Colorado Department of Revenue, as at Jul 15, 2026.
Federal EITC 2026 parameters: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32, Internal Revenue Service.

Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 15 July 2026. See our methodology. General information, not tax advice; your exact credit is set on your tax return.