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Does cash or 1099 income still count for the EITC?

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Short answer: yes, it counts

Cash jobs and 1099 self-employment income count as earned income for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The IRS EITC tables set the income limits and the maximum credit for each family size, for each tax year.

Report it — don't leave it off

Cash and 1099 income must be reported. Reporting it honestly can actually increase your EITC if you're a low earner, because the credit is based on earned income. Self-employment tax also applies to that income. A certified VITA volunteer handles both calculations for free. Never leave income off a return, and never inflate it.

What else has to be true

• Your earned income has to fall within the range the IRS EITC tables show for your family size.
• The worker and each qualifying child need a valid Social Security number.
• Investment income has to stay under the annual limit set in the same IRS tables.
• In most cases, "married filing separately" does not qualify.
• A qualifying child must live with you more than half the year, and be under 19 (24 if a full-time student, any age if permanently disabled).
• The Child Tax Credit needs the child to be under 17 with a valid Social Security number.

No Social Security number?

If you file with an ITIN, you cannot claim the EITC yourself. You may still be able to claim the Child Tax Credit for a child who has a valid Social Security number. Confirm your exact situation with a VITA preparer.

Missed past years? You may still have time

The IRS lets you file and claim a refund for a past year within three years of its original due date. Recent tax years may still be open, but the exact cutoff date depends on the year — confirm it with a VITA preparer or with the IRS Get Transcript tool before you assume a year is closed.

Get free, certified help

IRS-certified VITA volunteers prepare and e-file returns at no cost, including returns with cash or 1099 income. Already filed and not sure what was claimed? You can request a free IRS transcript to check.

What to do next

This page is general information, not tax advice, and it can be wrong. The free Tax Credit Check tool reads your own household, your own income, and whether you filed — cash, 1099, or W-2 — and tells you which credits you likely qualify for and which years you can still claim. It never guesses a dollar amount. Then it points you to a free, IRS-certified VITA site to file. Always confirm your specific situation with the IRS or a certified preparer.

Tax Credit Check explains federal tax credits in plain language from IRS sources; it can be wrong, and it is not tax advice. It does not compute refunds. File with an IRS-certified VITA volunteer (free) or a licensed preparer. Nothing you type is stored.