The EITC can top $6,000 if you have three or more qualifying children. By David Muhlbaum, Senior Online Editor March 11, 2016 Even if you don’t owe tax or aren’t required to file a return, there’s a strong incentive for people who work to file anyway: the Earned Income Tax Credit. Depending on your income and how many children you have, this tax credit can be worth as much as $6,242.See Also: The Most Overlooked Tax Deductions The income limits are fairly low. If you have no kids, for example, your earned income and adjusted gross income must each be less than $14,820 if you're single. If you’re married filing jointly, the limit is $20,330. If you have three or more kids and are married, though, your earned income and AGI can be as high as $53,267. When the tax credit exceeds the amount of taxes owed, the IRS will issue a refund to you. But you must file a return to claim the credit—a step many working Americans fail to take. Check out 8 more tax breaks for the middle class. Show comments