Delaware Earned Income Tax Credit Calculator
Figure basis: Official Delaware Division of RevenueThe Delaware earned income tax credit (EITC) is a state credit for working people with low to moderate income, set as 20% 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 Delaware rule to give your state credit. The Delaware credit is refundable or non-refundable at your election. Enter your details to see both your estimated federal EITC and your Delaware 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 Delaware Division of Revenue and verified for 2026.
A single filer in Delaware with 2 children earning $25,000 has an estimated federal EITC of $7,082.23 and a Delaware credit of $1,416.45 (20% of the federal credit).
How the Delaware EITC works
The Delaware 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 Delaware applies 20% of your federal EITC. Delaware lets you choose a refundable or a non-refundable version of the credit; check your state instructions for the current election.
federal EITC = phase-in, plateau, then phase-out per the IRS 2026 tables
Delaware EITC = federal EITC x Delaware percentage
Delaware lets you pick: a bigger non-refundable credit or a smaller refundable one
Delaware is one of the few states that hands the taxpayer a choice. You can elect a 20% non-refundable credit, or a 4.5% refundable credit, under Delaware Code Title 30, Section 1117. This calculator shows the 20% non-refundable version, which is the larger headline number, but larger is not automatically better, and that is the key thing to understand before you file.
The trade-off turns on how much Delaware income tax you actually owe. A non-refundable credit can only wipe out tax you owe; any excess is lost. So the 20% figure shown here is capped at your Delaware liability, and a low earner who owes little or no state tax may capture only a fraction of it. The 4.5% refundable option is smaller on paper but is paid out in full even when it exceeds your tax, so it can put more actual cash in the pocket of the lowest earners. A rough rule: if your Delaware tax comfortably exceeds 20% of your federal EITC, take the non-refundable credit; if you owe little, run the refundable option.
Everything starts from the federal EITC, so enter your earned income, filing status, and number of qualifying children above to see the federal figure, then apply whichever Delaware election best fits your own tax situation.
Delaware EITC: frequently asked questions
How much is the Delaware earned income tax credit?
The Delaware EITC is 20% 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 Delaware credit of about $1,416.45. Enter your own details above for your figure.
Is the Delaware EITC refundable?
Delaware lets you choose a refundable or a non-refundable version of the credit; check your state instructions for the current election.
Do I qualify for the Delaware earned income credit?
Generally, if you qualify for the federal EITC you also qualify for the Delaware 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). Delaware filers elect either a 20% non-refundable credit or a 4.5% refundable credit; this calculator shows the 20% non-refundable amount, which is limited to the state tax you owe.
How is the Delaware 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 Delaware applies 20% of your federal EITC. This calculator does both steps for you.
Official sources
- Delaware EITC percentage and refundability: Delaware Division 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.