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What does income tax credit mean?

Updated: 9/15/2023
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15y ago

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An income tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar reduction in your tax, based on money you spent or invested in an item the government has decided is a social good, and which therefore is to be encouraged by the credit. It is different than an income tax deduction, which is a dollar reduction in your taxable income, but only a partial dollar reduction in tax.

For example, let's say you spent $30,000 on solar panels for your home, for which your government will award a tax credit of 50% of the purchase price. In this case, your tax credit will amount to $15,000. If you owed $18,000 in tax in that tax period, $15,000 would be credited off, leaving you with only $3,000 in tax.

A tax deduction of 50% of the purchase price would likely result in you're having to pay much more tax, because the deduction applies to your income, not directly to your tax. For example, suppose you made $100,000 in the year you bought the $30,000 in solar panels. The deduction would be $15,000, making your taxable income $85,000.

How much do you save with the deduction? It's the difference in tax owing against the $100,000 versus the tax owing against the $85,000.

If the marginal tax bracket is 30% starting at $50,000 income, you would pay 30% * ($100,000 - $50,000), or $15,000 in tax if you don't buy the solar panels. If you do buy the panels and take the deduction, your tax will be 30% * ($85,000-50,000), or $10,500 in tax. Thus your savings is $4,500.

So you see, in this case a tax credit of $15,000 is MUCH BETTER than a tax deduction of $15,000. The credit is worth $15,000, while the deduction is worth only $4,500!

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Continue Learning about Accounting

Is earned income credit a tax credit?

The Earned Income Tax Credit or the EITC is a refundable federal income tax credit for low to moderate income working individuals and families. Basically, rather than withholding the tax, the money is available with your paycheck.


How does the earned income credit produce a negative income tax?

The EITC is a REFUNDABLE TAX CREDIT. Go to the IRS gov website and use the search box for EITC Home Page The Earned Income Tax Credit or the EITC is a refundable federal income tax credit for low to moderate income working individuals and families.


Entry for Provision for Income Taxes?

You will need two accounts: Income tax expenses (an expense account, obviously) Provision for income tax (a liability account) You will simply: debit provision for income tax credit income tax expenses When actually paying income tax, you will: debit cash credit provision for income tax


Is earned income tax credit an itemized deduction?

No. The earned income tax credit is a credit received by some based on their income and lawful dependent children. It is not a deduction of any kind.


Earned Income Credit (EIC) Calculator?

Earned Income Credit (EIC) Calculator Earned Income Credit (EIC) is a tax credit available to low income earners. In some cases the EIC can be greater than your total income tax bill, providing an income tax refund to families that may have little or no income tax withheld from their paychecks. Use this calculator see if you qualify for the Earned Income Credit, and if so, how much it might be worth to you and your family. This calculator creates estimated values for tax year 2010.

Related questions

What is the income tax credit for a child?

a credit agency garnished my income tax,is the the child tax credit exempt from the garnishment?


Is earned income credit a tax credit?

The Earned Income Tax Credit or the EITC is a refundable federal income tax credit for low to moderate income working individuals and families. Basically, rather than withholding the tax, the money is available with your paycheck.


How can someone legally not pay taxes?

If they have tax exempt income for items such as a Roth IRA, then they do not have a tax burden. Also, it possible with low income and tax credits such as the child tax credit, Hope credit, and earned income credit, so have your total income tax reduced to zero.


How does the earned income credit produce a negative income tax?

The EITC is a REFUNDABLE TAX CREDIT. Go to the IRS gov website and use the search box for EITC Home Page The Earned Income Tax Credit or the EITC is a refundable federal income tax credit for low to moderate income working individuals and families.


What is eic?

eic would probably be referring to the EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT (EITC) Go to the IRS gov website and use the search box for Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) The Earned Income Tax Credit or the EITC is a refundable federal income tax credit for low to moderate income working individuals and families.


Entry for Provision for Income Taxes?

You will need two accounts: Income tax expenses (an expense account, obviously) Provision for income tax (a liability account) You will simply: debit provision for income tax credit income tax expenses When actually paying income tax, you will: debit cash credit provision for income tax


Is earned income tax credit an itemized deduction?

No. The earned income tax credit is a credit received by some based on their income and lawful dependent children. It is not a deduction of any kind.


Earned Income Credit (EIC) Calculator?

Earned Income Credit (EIC) Calculator Earned Income Credit (EIC) is a tax credit available to low income earners. In some cases the EIC can be greater than your total income tax bill, providing an income tax refund to families that may have little or no income tax withheld from their paychecks. Use this calculator see if you qualify for the Earned Income Credit, and if so, how much it might be worth to you and your family. This calculator creates estimated values for tax year 2010.


How do record accrural of federal unemployment TAX?

Debit: Income tax expense Credit: Income tax payable


Why do half of tax filers pay no tax?

The simple answer is because they don't make enough income or qualify for refundable tax credits, such as earned income tax credit or additional child tax credit.


Where can one find an earned income credit table?

The IRS government site has an earned income tax credit table. Also, Turbo Tax has a good earned income credit table. Turbo Tax will ask questions that will help one determine if they qualify for a credit. Then, one can use their income credit table to see how much credit they can claim.


Can you get an income tax refund if you do not work?

Not if you did not have some income tax withheld from some type of income or if you are qualified for some type of refundable tax credit.