ACTC/EITC Payout Date 2026: The IRS opens the 2026 filing season on 26 January 2026 and starts accepting the tax returns. The tax return with the ACTC/EITC claim will be late due to the PATH Act restriction. If you qualified for ACTC/EITC and claimed it with your 2025 tax return, you can find the refund date here.
ACTC/EITC Payout Date 2026
The Internal Revenue Service has phased out the paper refund as of 30 September 2025, so the IRS urged taxpayers to provide bank account information with their returns to process the refund directly to the bank account. The tax refund is typically processed within 21 days through direct deposit.
However, the ACTC/EITC payout will be processed a bit later due to the PATH Act restriction. The IRS claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) will be processed to your account by 03 March 2026, under the following conditions:
- Filed a return online
- Went with Direct deposit
- No issue was found in your 2025 tax return
Remember, the 03 March 2026 date is not final; some taxpayers may find their tax refund earlier depending on their financial institution and the earlier they file the tax return. However, it will be processed after 21 February 2026, even if you expect early payment.
Why does the IRS hold your ACTC/EITC refund?
The IRS holds your ACTC/EITC refund under the provisions of the PATH (Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes) Act, which was enacted to prevent tax fraud in the tax credits ACTC/EITC. The act states that the IRS needs to wait till mid- February to process the ACTC/EITC claims refund.
The wait till mid-February was implemented to give the agency enough time to verify and review the return with the tax credits claim. The law affects the early tax filers as they have to wait till the restriction is lifted to receive their tax refund.
How can you track your 2026 tax refund?
The IRS allows taxpayers to track their refund status via the Where’s My Refund tool that will be available on Where’s My Refund, the IRS individual online account, and the IRS2Go mobile app. The tool requires you to enter your tax year, refund amount, Social Security number, and filing status.
The early taxpayers with an EITC/ACTC claim in the 2026 tax filing season can expect the updated status on the Where’s My Refund tool by 22 February 2026. You can track the 2026 ACTC/EITC refund status in the following steps:
- Go to the IRS online account/ IRS2Go app/ IRS online website.
- Look for the refund status and click it to land on the Where’s My Refund page.
- Now, click the “Check Your Refund” option in blue and enter all the asked details in the appropriate boxes.
- Once you enter all the details, your refund status will appear on your screen.
The Where’s My Refund tool shows the refund status in three stages: When the return is received, when your refund is approved, and when it is sent. If the status shows the “Refund Sent” status, you can expect your refund in your bank account in 4 to 5 days.
What will be your ACTC/EITC payout for the 2026 tax season?
The IRS adjusts the tax credits every year based on inflation; this year, the agency has adjusted the tax laws. The One Big Beautiful Bill has increased the child tax credit to $2200 for each qualifying child, but the refundable portion remains the same $1700 per child.
So, for the 2026 tax season, your ACTC payout will be around $1700, while the EITC credits are based on the inflation adjustment. The EITC payout is based on the AGI, investment income, filing status, number of qualifying children, and tax year.
So, the credit amount may vary for taxpayers; however, the maximum credit allowed on the 2025 tax return for EITC is as follows:
| Qualifying Children | EITC Amount |
| 0 | $649 |
| 01 | $4,328 |
| 02 | $7,152 |
| 03 or more | $8,046 |
What action can you take if you miss your refund?
When IRS Where’s My Refund shows the refund sent status, typically, you will receive the refund in 4 to 5 days. However, if, due to any issues, you did not see your refund processed, you can reach out to the IRS about your tax refund.
You can file the Form 3911 and inquire about your tax refund from the IRS. This form tells the IRS about your missing refund and begins tracing your refund to tell you about your refund. You can also call at 800-829-1954 for automated service or at 800-829-1040 to talk with a representative.
The IRS ensures that taxpayers have full assistance with their tax refund, so if you have any issues, you can reach out to the IRS or use the online services. The 2026 tax season has finally begun, and if you are claiming ACTC/EITC, you can expect the payment by 03 March 2026 onwards.