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My tax software seems to allow me to fill out Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) but I wanted to make sure that I really qualify.

For 2023, I have earned income $52,000 and $5500 in a stock sale and $2-3000 in div. From this IRS page, I would think that it's a yes. But the software I am using calculates a credit and then tells me that if I request this, since I have foreign income and am requesting EITC, I need to print and mail the 1040 and can not e-file. Does this mean there is an issue or something wrong with what I am doing? Is this legit?

Chris W. Rea
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2 Answers2

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Foreign income is not by itself disqualifying, but excluding foreign earned income on form 2555 is; see the 5th bullet on the page you link. If you're not using 2555, I'm not sure what the efiling problem is -- maybe your income is from foreign employer(s) who don't (and aren't required to) file and furnish W-2?

For no-child EIC you must live in the US more than half the year, and for with-child EIC -- the only kind you can qualify for with about $61k AGI, and only with >=3 children and a spouse filing jointly -- the children must live with you in the US more than half the year.

So NO.

dave_thompson_085
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(Dave Thompson's answer is better -- Keshlam)

Some forms don't support electronic submission, and do require that you file by mail. That doesn't necessarily mean you are doing something wrong.

But I don't know if you are doing it right either. Don't panic, but do try to get an authoritative answer. Or try it and risk being audited; if you aren't actually trying to cheat, an audit is annoying but mostly harmless; you might just owe more tax and some late payment fees on that.

You might get better advice in the expats stack.

keshlam
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