California residents can receive the state Earned Income Tax Credit apart from the federal EITC. If you are preparing for the 2025 tax year return, you should check the CalEITC eligibility, refund amount, and other information here.
The California Franchise Tax Board offers the state Earned Income Tax Credit to support the taxpayers through a refundable credit that increases their tax refund. This actually supports the families with dependent children the most and helps them gain some financial stability with the increasing cost of living.
Many US states have their own separate EITC from the federal credit, where the state credit is a percentage of the federal credit. California also offered the credit to millions of people over the years, helping low-income individuals or households.
Who will receive the CalEITC refund in 2026?
If you are wondering whether you will qualify for the CalEITC in the upcoming tax season, you can check the eligibility conditions for the credit below:
- Your age must be at least 18 or above, or you have a qualifying child living with you, and you are responsible for the child’s care.
- You have a valid Social Security Number or ITIN, and if you have a spouse, they should also have a valid SSN/ITIN.
- You must be living in California for at least six months of the tax year you are claiming the credit for.
- You should at least have an earned income, but not above the threshold of $31,950.
- Your qualifying child should be claimed as a dependent only on your return, not on anyone else.
- You should not be claimed as a dependent on any other taxpayer’s return.
What will be the CalEITC refund amount?
The CalEITC refund amount depends on the federal EITC, family situation, and your gross income. According to the guidelines, the CalEITC refund is 46.5% of the federal EITC; however, the payment may vary depending on other factors.
So, if you are planning to claim the CalEITC in the 2026 tax season, you can expect the credit increase as the EITC for the 2025 tax year is adjusted based on inflation. Now, based on the family size, you can expect the following CalEITC for the 2025 tax year:
| Number of Qualifying Children | Federal EITC | Maximum CalEITC (46.5% of federal EITC) |
| Zero | $649 | $302 |
| One | $4,328 | $2012 |
| Two | $7,152 | $3,326 |
| Three or more | $8,046 | $3741 |
When can you expect your CalEITC Refund in 2026?
The CalEITC refund is processed depending on the way you have filed the tax return and the method you have selected to receive the payment. So, based on the following factors, you can expect the California Franchise Tax Board to send the refund on the following dates:
- E-file tax return: It can take up to three weeks after e-filing your tax return, claiming the credit.
- Mailed return: You can receive the refund within 3 months of mailing the paper return for the tax year, so you can expect the refund in March if you filed the state tax return early in the tax season.
The residents can track their CalEITC along with their state tax refund through the California FTB Where’s My Refund tool and estimate their payment dates.
How to claim the CalEITC 2026 refund?
If you qualify for the CalEITC credit, you should claim it on your state tax return to gain extra benefits while you claim the federal EITC. You can follow the instructions below to file your claim on the CalEITC for the 2025 tax year whenever the tax season begins in 2026:
- You should file the state tax return for the respective tax year through the CalFile application if you are looking for an online way.
- You can mail the state tax return with the form FTB 3514 to claim the CalEITC and receive the refund.
- If you need assistance in filing the California state tax return, you can get help from the VITA program and accurately file the return and claim the credit, so that you can receive the credit on time.
CalEITC supports low-income earners with dependent children every year and gives them extra support along with the federal EITC. So, the upcoming season before filing your state tax return, check if you qualify for the California EITC and file your return accordingly.
Disclaimer: CalEITC refund dates for 2026 are subject to state processing timelines. Only California tax authorities provide final release information.