What happens if I make a mistake or provide false information in claiming the EIC?
You may face a penalty if you claim the EIC when you are not eligible for it: • If you make a mistake, not on purpose, in claiming the EIC, the IRS will most likely correct the error or ask you for correct information without penalty. • If the IRS finds that you made a reckless error or didn’t follow the EIC rules on purpose, the IRS can deny your current EIC claim and prohibit you from claiming the EIC for the next two years. • If the IRS finds that your error was due to fraud, meaning you intentionally provided false information to the IRS when you filed your claim for the EIC, the IRS can deny your current EIC claim and prohibit you from claiming the EIC for the next 10 years.
