Connecticut Earned Income Tax Credit Calculator
Figure basis: Official Connecticut Department of Revenue ServicesThe Connecticut earned income tax credit (EITC) is a state credit for working people with low to moderate income, set as 40% 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 Connecticut rule to give your state credit. The Connecticut credit is refundable. Enter your details to see both your estimated federal EITC and your Connecticut 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 Connecticut Department of Revenue Services and verified for 2026.
A single filer in Connecticut with 2 children earning $25,000 has an estimated federal EITC of $7,082.23 and a Connecticut credit of $2,832.89 (40% of the federal credit).
How the Connecticut EITC works
The Connecticut 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 Connecticut applies 40% of your federal EITC. The Connecticut 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
Connecticut EITC = federal EITC x Connecticut percentage
Connecticut's 40% match is among the country's most generous
Connecticut applies a flat 40% of your federal EITC, one of the higher state matches in the country, where many states sit in the 10% to 30% range. The mechanics are simple: work out the federal credit first from earned income, filing status, and qualifying children, then multiply by 0.40. A single parent of two earning $25,000, for example, lands near the top of the federal schedule, so the Connecticut credit is a meaningful addition rather than a token amount.
Because the state credit is built directly on the federal figure, everything that moves the federal number moves the Connecticut number too. The federal credit phases in as your earnings rise, plateaus at a maximum, then phases out, so a raise can slightly lower your credit once you are past the plateau. It is a common surprise, and it is a feature of the federal design, not a Connecticut quirk.
The Connecticut credit is refundable. That is the part that matters most for low earners: if 40% of your federal EITC exceeds the Connecticut income tax you owe, the state pays you the difference. The credit is claimed on your Connecticut return and the exact amount is settled there, so treat the figure here as a close estimate you can plan around rather than a final determination.
Connecticut EITC: frequently asked questions
How much is the Connecticut earned income tax credit?
The Connecticut EITC is 40% 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 Connecticut credit of about $2,832.89. Enter your own details above for your figure.
Is the Connecticut EITC refundable?
The Connecticut 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 Connecticut earned income credit?
Generally, if you qualify for the federal EITC you also qualify for the Connecticut 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).
How is the Connecticut 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 Connecticut applies 40% of your federal EITC. This calculator does both steps for you.
Official sources
- Connecticut EITC percentage and refundability: Connecticut Department of Revenue Services, 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.