The earned income credit stack for California in 2026: the federal EITC computed bracket by bracket, California's own credit where one exists, the federal Child Tax Credit, and California's child credit where one exists — one set of family inputs, every layer shown.
Federal EITC $6,192 · California — · child credit $1,064
| Federal EITC (refundable) | $6,192 |
| California EITC | — |
| California Young Child Tax Credit | $1,064 |
| Federal Child Tax Credit | $4,400 |
| of which up to $3,400 can be refundable (ACTC) |
The hero counts the refundable layers; the CTC mostly offsets tax owed (its refundable slice is the ACTC line).
The credit phases IN with earnings (7.65%–45% by number of children), holds at its maximum ($649 / $4,345 / $7,171 / $8,064), then phases OUT on the greater of earnings or AGI. Investment income over $12,100 disqualifies you entirely; childless workers must be 25–64. Parameters: Rev. Proc. 2025-32.
Source: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.
California runs its own CalEITC — its own phase-in/out on wages only, with earnings caps far below federal (about $32,900 for TY2025) and an investment-income limit of $4,615. The verified structure is described here, but its worksheet has enough moving parts (including the young-child boost) that this page computes the federal credit and the CA Young Child Tax Credit, and points CalEITC claimants to the FTB worksheet rather than printing an estimate it cannot stand behind.
Source: California Department of Revenue credit guidance (2026), as researched for this family.
$2,200 per child under 17 for 2026, phasing out at 5% of AGI over $200,000 ($400,000 MFJ). The refundable Additional CTC is capped at $1,700 per child and 15% of earnings over $2,500. California’s child credit is in the stack above: California Young Child Tax Credit — $1,117 with a child under 6 (requires CalEITC eligibility).
Source: IRC §24 as amended by Pub. L. 119-21 §70104; Rev. Proc. 2025-32 §4.05.
Past the plateau, the EITC phases out at 7.65%–21.06% of income — the credit is designed to top up low earnings, not to follow you up the ladder. The phase-out runs on the GREATER of earned income and AGI, which is why investment or other income can shrink it even at modest wages.
For the federal EITC they share the same (non-MFJ) thresholds — the select groups them together deliberately. Married filing jointly gets thresholds about $7,180 higher in the phase-out.
The EITC (federal and most states) is fully refundable — it can exceed your tax and come back as a refund. Credits marked nonrefundable on this page can only offset tax owed. The CTC is mostly nonrefundable except its ACTC slice.
California EITC Calculator for 2026: on $32,000 of earnings with 2 children, the federal EITC is $6,192, with CalEITC and the Young Child Tax Credit explained and computed where the verified structure allows. All parameters from Rev. Proc. 2025-32 and state sources.
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Every earned-income and child credit available in California for 2026, computed on your family: federal EITC, California’s credit, the federal Child Tax Credit, and the state child credit.
On the defaults ($32,000, single, 2 children): federal EITC $6,192, state child credit $1,064, federal CTC $4,400.
The EITC phases out on the greater of earnings or AGI — the AGI field matters even if wages are modest.
Yes — the page models it as legislated for 2026.
The federal EITC is; state refundability is stated on the page wherever it differs.
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