Find out which US tax credits actually apply to you, and how to claim one properly
Answer a few questions about your income, dependents and this year's changes, and we'll point you toward the credit categories worth checking and what to gather. We are not the IRS and this is not personalized tax advice — we help you find the right questions to ask.
What's going on with your taxes this year?
Six ways into tax credits
Pick the question closest to where you actually are right now.
Credit vs deduction — what's the real difference?
The distinction that changes how you should read every other credit topic.
Read the guide →Do I qualify for the EITC?
Why so many eligible people miss this one, and how to check properly.
Read the guide →I have a child or dependent
Child Tax Credit and dependent care credit, explained separately.
Read the guide →I made an energy or EV purchase
What changed after the Inflation Reduction Act, at a category level.
Read the guide →Compare filing help by situation
See how software and professional help typically differ for credit-heavy returns.
Compare →Work out what to gather before you claim anything
Three tools: an organizer for your documents, a quiz to sort your filing situation, and a tracker for savings goals — none of them estimate a refund or credit dollar amount.
Credit documentation organizer
Check off what you've gathered before you start claiming any credit — income records, dependent info, receipts and prior-year returns.
Assumptions this uses
- This checklist is generic and does not know your specific credits — it only tracks what you've marked as gathered.
- It does not determine eligibility for any credit or estimate a dollar amount.
- US federal filing conventions only — state credit documentation may differ.
Limitations: This organizer does not calculate a refund, does not confirm eligibility for any specific credit, and does not replace reading the actual eligibility criteria for the credits you believe apply to you.
Runs entirely in your browser.
Check eligibility before you estimate value
It's tempting to look up how much a credit might be worth before confirming you actually qualify. Flip that order. Work through the actual eligibility criteria first — income range, dependents, expense type — using the IRS's own tools or your software's guided interview, then worry about the amount.
Ask about which tax credits might apply to you
Describe your household, income and this year's changes and get a plain-English read on which credit categories are worth checking.
Have a question about a specific credit?
Send us a note about your household, income and what's making a credit hard to figure out — we'll point you toward the right guide or resource.
This isn't a request for tax advice and it won't be treated as one — it's a starting point for pointing you to the right resource.
Partner link — we may be paid a fee at no cost to you. How we make money.
Get help preparing your claim
Once you know which credits might apply, filing software or a professional can help you actually claim them correctly.
Compare filing help →Things that make claiming a credit easier, not tax advice
Physical products that help with the paperwork side of a credit-heavy return. We're not paid by the IRS or by software providers to recommend these, and none of them determine your eligibility for you.
How we make money: some links here are partner or affiliate links and we may be paid a fee at no cost to you. It never changes what we write or how options are ordered — see our disclosure and methodology.
The Tax Credit Readiness Kit
Pulls together a documentation checklist by credit type, a worksheet for tracking what you've gathered, and the questions worth asking before you assume you do or don't qualify.
Where we make money on this page
These are tax filing and financial service providers we have affiliate relationships with. Being listed here doesn't mean we found them to be the cheapest or the best fit for your specific credits — read the guides for that.
How we make money: some links here are partner or affiliate links and we may be paid a fee at no cost to you. It never changes what we write or how options are ordered — see our disclosure and methodology.
TurboTax
Widely used US tax software with guided interviews for most major credits.
See TurboTax →H&R Block
Software with the option to add in-person help if your credit situation gets complicated.
See H&R Block →Tax credit questions people actually ask
The questions we hear most, answered without the upsell. Where the honest answer is "it depends," we say what it depends on.
What's the actual difference between a tax credit and a tax deduction?
A credit reduces the tax you owe, dollar for dollar, after your tax has been calculated. A deduction reduces your taxable income before your tax is calculated, so its value depends on your tax bracket. A credit is generally worth more per dollar than a deduction of the same size.
Am I eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit?
It depends on your earned income, filing status, and number of qualifying children for the current tax year — income limits and credit amounts change most years. The most reliable way to check is the IRS's own EITC Assistant tool or your tax software's guided interview, not a remembered figure from a prior year.
Can I claim both the Child Tax Credit and the Child and Dependent Care Credit?
Potentially, yes — they're separate credits with separate eligibility tests. The Child Tax Credit is about having a qualifying child; the dependent care credit is about paying for care so you could work. Having a child doesn't automatically mean the care credit applies too.
What's the difference between the American Opportunity Credit and the Lifetime Learning Credit?
The American Opportunity Credit generally fits undergraduate, degree-track students in their first several years and can be partly refundable. The Lifetime Learning Credit is broader in what coursework qualifies but generally nonrefundable. You typically choose one per student, not one per household, and can't claim both for the same student's same expenses.
How much is the EV tax credit worth right now?
We don't quote a specific figure here because it changes and depends on the vehicle, its price, its assembly and battery sourcing, and your income. Confirm the current amount directly through the IRS or, often, at the point of sale with a participating dealer.
What tax credits exist for small businesses?
Broad categories include hiring-related credits, research and development credits, energy and clean vehicle credits, and credits tied to starting a retirement plan or improving accessibility. Several require documentation or elections made during the year the expense happens, not reconstructed at tax time — ask your accountant early in the year.