If a taxpayer has a tax liability of zero, will the Earned Income Tax Credit return a refund?

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a refundable credit, which means that if a taxpayer qualifies for this credit, they can receive a cash refund even if their tax liability is zero. The EITC is designed to benefit low to moderate-income working individuals and families, incentivizing work and reducing poverty.

When a taxpayer's tax liability is zero, refundable credits, such as the EITC, can still provide a refund because these credits are not limited by the amount of tax owed. Instead, they can be claimed on the taxpayer's return, and any portion of the credit that exceeds the tax liability is refunded directly to the taxpayer. This feature allows those eligible for the EITC to potentially receive a significant refund if they have qualifying earnings, regardless of any tax owed.

Therefore, since the EITC is refundable, it can indeed contribute to a cash refund even when the taxpayer's overall tax liability is zero.