02/01/2026
Types of earned income
Wages, salaries, or tips where federal income taxes are withheld on Form W-2, box 1
Tip income not reported to your employer
Note: Include the full amount of tip and overtime income in the calculation of earned income when determining eligibility for the Earned Income Tax Credit, even if all or part is deductible.
Household employee wages
Medicaid waiver payments excluded from income on Schedule 1 (Form 1040)
Income from a job where your employer didn’t withhold tax (such as gig economy work) including:
Driving a car for booked rides or deliveries
Running errands or doing tasks
Selling goods online
Renting equipment
Renting out property or part of it
Providing creative or professional services
Providing other temporary, on-demand or freelance work
Money made from self-employment, including if you:
Own or operate a business or farm
Are a minister or member of a religious order
Are a statutory employee and have income
Taxable benefits from a union strike
Certain disability benefits you got before you were the minimum retirement age
Nontaxable Combat Pay (Form W-2, box 12 with code Q)
If you claim nontaxable combat pay as earned income, it may increase or decrease the amount of your EITC. For more information, see Publication 3, Armed Forces' Tax Guide.