Skip to main content
April 9, 2025
Question

EIC presence test

  • April 9, 2025
  • 1 reply
  • 0 views

We are US Citizens and were outside the US (all family) for more than six months. Do I qualify for EIC as my trip was due to a family emergency and I kept a permanent US address (not residence) during my time outside USA. We received a form from IRS to claim EIC, but I am not sure if I need to include a cover sheet with the form explaining the whole situation?

1 reply

April 9, 2025

No, you cannot claim the Earned Income Tax Credit if you were not living in the United States for more than six months.  See Residency Test.

 

There was a limited exception to this rule for 2020 and 2021 for Covid related absences, but it no longer applies. 

MSAL678Author
April 9, 2025

The form I received from IRS was for my 2021 returns and I had difficulty in getting back to the US due to covid related travel restrictions in 2021. This is the last year I can submit the form I received from IRS to claim my EIC from 2021?

April 9, 2025

No. As MaryK4 mentioned, there was a limited exception to this rule for 2020 and 2021 for Covid related absences, but it no longer applies. 

 

@MSAL678