Rhode Island Earned Income Tax Credit Calculator
Figure basis: Official Rhode Island Division of TaxationThe Rhode Island earned income tax credit (EITC) is a state credit for working people with low to moderate income, set as 16% 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 Rhode Island rule to give your state credit. The Rhode Island credit is refundable. Enter your details to see both your estimated federal EITC and your Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island Division of Taxation and verified for 2026.
A single filer in Rhode Island with 2 children earning $25,000 has an estimated federal EITC of $7,082.23 and a Rhode Island credit of $1,133.16 (16% of the federal credit).
How the Rhode Island EITC works
The Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island applies 16% of your federal EITC. The Rhode Island 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
Rhode Island EITC = federal EITC x Rhode Island percentage
Editor's insight: Rhode Island's slow climb to 16%
Rhode Island sets its EITC at 16% of the federal credit and makes it fully refundable, which is the combination that actually reaches low earners. The rate is the product of a deliberate, incremental climb: Rhode Island sat at 15% for years before nudging the share upward, and every point counts because it applies on top of a federal credit that can exceed $6,000 for a family with children.
Refundability is the quiet strength here. Because the credit is paid in full even when it is larger than your Rhode Island tax, a single parent who owes little or no state tax still receives the entire 16%. That keeps Rhode Island in step with its New England neighbors, though it trails the more generous headline rates in Massachusetts (40%) and Vermont (38%).
One practical note: the state derives its EITC from the federal figure on the 1040R instructions, so anything that changes your federal credit, whether a shift in earned income, filing status, or the number of qualifying children, flows straight through to the Rhode Island amount. That tight coupling is why it pays to compute both numbers together rather than estimating the state share in your head. Enter your income and family details above to see the federal EITC and the Rhode Island 16% side by side.
Rhode Island EITC: frequently asked questions
How much is the Rhode Island earned income tax credit?
The Rhode Island EITC is 16% 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 Rhode Island credit of about $1,133.16. Enter your own details above for your figure.
Is the Rhode Island EITC refundable?
The Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island earned income credit?
Generally, if you qualify for the federal EITC you also qualify for the Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island applies 16% of your federal EITC. This calculator does both steps for you.
Official sources
- Rhode Island EITC percentage and refundability: Rhode Island Division of Taxation, 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.