Schedule EIC (Form 1040), Earned Income Credit Qualifying Child Information, is the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) schedule you complete and attach to Form 1040 or 1040-SR when you have a qualifying child for the earned income credit (EIC). It asks for each child's name, Social Security number (SSN), year of birth, relationship to you and months lived with you. On this page you can fill out the 2025 Schedule EIC online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the form and its latest updates are published by the IRS at www.irs.gov/ScheduleEIC.
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What is Schedule EIC (Form 1040)?
Schedule EIC (Form 1040), Earned Income Credit Qualifying Child Information, is the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) schedule that gives the IRS the details of the qualifying children behind your earned income credit (EIC) claim, and it is attached to Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR.
The schedule does not figure the credit. You first work out the EIC, or have the IRS figure it, using the instructions for Form 1040, line 27a. Schedule EIC then records the information about each qualifying child: name (line 1), SSN (line 2), year of birth (line 3), the student and disability questions (lines 4a and 4b), relationship to you (line 5) and the number of months the child lived with you in the United States during 2025 (line 6).
The form has columns for Child 1, Child 2 and Child 3. If you have more than three qualifying children, the form says you have to list only three to get the maximum credit.
The schedule also covers the self-only EIC. If a child who otherwise meets the conditions does not have an SSN as defined in the Form 1040 instructions for line 27a, you may still be able to claim the self-only EIC by completing and attaching this schedule. The form carries OMB No. 1545-0074 and Attachment Sequence No. 43.
Who needs to file Schedule EIC (Form 1040)?
You complete Schedule EIC if you claim the EIC and have a qualifying child. The form says to complete and attach it to Form 1040 or 1040-SR only if you have a qualifying child.
A qualifying child for the EIC is your son, daughter, stepchild, eligible foster child, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, half brother, half sister, or a descendant of any of them (for example, a grandchild, niece or nephew). The child must also meet all of these conditions:
- Be under age 19 at the end of 2025 and younger than you (or your spouse if filing jointly); or under age 24, a student and younger than you (or your spouse); or permanently and totally disabled at any age.
- Not be filing a joint return for 2025, unless the joint return is filed only to claim a refund of withheld income tax or estimated tax paid.
- Have lived with you in the United States for more than half of 2025.
You can't claim the EIC for a child who didn't live with you for more than half of the year, even if you paid most of the child's living expenses. Special rules apply if the child was married or could be a qualifying child of another person; see the instructions for Form 1040, line 27a. Do not use the schedule if you have no qualifying child.
When to file Schedule EIC (Form 1040)
Schedule EIC has no due date of its own: you complete it when you prepare Form 1040 or 1040-SR and claim the EIC with a qualifying child, and it is filed with that return. Check the Form 1040 instructions for the return's due date.
Two timing points matter. Fill in every line that applies for each qualifying child: the form warns that it takes longer to process your return and issue your refund if you do not. Also, before you begin, confirm with the instructions for Form 1040, line 27a, and Pub. 596 that you can take the EIC and have a qualifying child.
Documents you need
- Copy of the child's birth certificate, death certificate, or hospital medical records showing a live birth: attach it only if the child was born and died in 2025 and had no SSN, and you entered "Died" on line 2.
- Records showing the child lived with you, such as school and childcare records or other records showing the child's address: keep them rather than attach them, because the IRS may ask for them.
How to fill out Schedule EIC (Form 1040)
Enter your name and SSN
At the top, enter the name(s) shown on your return and your social security number.
Confirm you can take the EIC
Before you begin, use the instructions for Form 1040, line 27a, and Pub. 596 to check that you can take the EIC and have a qualifying child. Complete the schedule only if you do.
List each child's name
On line 1, enter the first and last name of each qualifying child in the Child 1, Child 2 and Child 3 columns, exactly as on the child's Social Security card. You only need to list three children to get the maximum credit.
Enter each child's SSN
On line 2, enter the child's SSN as it appears on the Social Security card. If the child was born and died in 2025 and had no SSN, enter "Died" and attach the required record.
Enter the year of birth
On line 3, enter each child's year of birth. If the child was born after 2006 and is younger than you (or your spouse if filing jointly), skip lines 4a and 4b and go to line 5.
Answer the student question
On line 4a, check Yes if the child was under age 24 at the end of 2025, a student and younger than you (or your spouse); then go to line 5. Check No to go to line 4b.
Answer the disability question
On line 4b, check Yes if the child was permanently and totally disabled during any part of 2025 and go to line 5. If you check No, the child is not a qualifying child.
State the child's relationship
On line 5, enter the child's relationship to you, such as son, daughter, grandchild, niece, nephew or eligible foster child.
Enter months lived with you
On line 6, enter the number of months the child lived with you in the United States during 2025, never more than 12. Enter "7" if it was more than half the year but less than 7 months, and "12" for a child born or died in 2025 whose home was yours more than half the time they were alive.
Handle a child without a valid SSN
To claim the self-only EIC, complete line 1 and lines 2 through 6 for Child 1. If Child 1 has an ITIN, an ATIN, or an SSN not considered valid, enter it on line 2; otherwise leave line 2 blank.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check that names and SSNs match the Social Security cards and that every line that applies is filled. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and attach it to Form 1040 or 1040-SR.
How to submit Schedule EIC (Form 1040)
Schedule EIC is submitted as an attachment to Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR. It has no separate address, portal or filing channel printed on it.
- With your return: attach the completed schedule to the return and send both through the channel you use for the return. The IRS publishes the latest information at www.irs.gov/ScheduleEIC.
- Child's name or SSN problems: if the name or SSN on the child's Social Security card is not correct, the form says to call the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213.
- Child born and died in 2025 without an SSN: enter "Died" on line 2 and attach a copy of the child's birth certificate, death certificate, or hospital medical records showing a live birth.
FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Entering a child's name on line 1 or SSN on line 2 that does not agree with the child's Social Security card; the IRS may reduce your EIC when it processes the return.
- Claiming the EIC for a child who did not live with you in the United States for more than half of 2025, even if you paid most of the child's living expenses.
- Leaving lines blank that apply to a qualifying child; the form warns that processing and your refund take longer.
- Entering more than 12 months on line 6, which the form says not to do.
- Entering the actual number of months on line 6 for a child who lived with you more than half of 2025 but less than 7 months, instead of "7".
- Skipping lines 4a and 4b incorrectly: they are skipped only if the child was born after 2006 and is younger than you (or your spouse if filing jointly).
- Entering an SSN for a child without one as defined in the Form 1040 line 27a instructions, instead of following the self-only EIC rules.
- Taking the EIC when not eligible: reckless or intentional disregard of the rules can bar the credit for 2 years, and fraud can bar it for 10 years.
Frequently asked questions
What is Schedule EIC used for?
Schedule EIC (Form 1040) gives the IRS information about the qualifying children behind your earned income credit. You complete and attach it to Form 1040 or 1040-SR only if you have a qualifying child. It does not calculate the credit itself.
Who has to file Schedule EIC?
You file it if you claim the EIC with a qualifying child. The form says to complete and attach it to Form 1040 or 1040-SR only if you have a qualifying child. First confirm with the Form 1040 line 27a instructions and Pub. 596 that you can take the EIC.
Can I fill out Schedule EIC online?
Yes. You can complete the 2025 PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service and does not file anything with the IRS; you attach the schedule to your Form 1040 or 1040-SR and submit it through your usual channel.
What if I have more than three qualifying children?
List only three. The form says that if you have more than three qualifying children, you have to list only three to get the maximum credit. The schedule has columns for Child 1, Child 2 and Child 3.
What do I enter on Schedule EIC line 6?
Enter the number of months the child lived with you in the United States during 2025, no more than 12. Enter "7" if the child lived with you more than half the year but less than 7 months, and "12" for a child born or died in 2025 whose home was yours more than half their life.
Can I claim the EIC if my child has no SSN?
Possibly the self-only EIC. If the child meets the qualifying child conditions but has no SSN as defined in the Form 1040 line 27a instructions, and you are otherwise eligible, complete line 1 and lines 2 through 6 for Child 1 and attach the schedule.
What happens if I take the EIC when I'm not eligible?
You may lose the credit for years. If the error is due to reckless or intentional disregard of the EIC rules, you can't take the credit for 2 years; if you fraudulently take it, for 10 years. You may also have to pay penalties.
What if my child's name or SSN doesn't match the Social Security card?
The IRS may reduce your EIC when it processes your return. The child's name on line 1 and SSN on line 2 must agree with the Social Security card. If the card's name or SSN is not correct, call the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213.
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