Yes, you can get a refund without having paid taxes during the year

The most common way this happens is through refundable tax credits. These are credits that the government will pay you even if you owe no tax at all. The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Additional Child Tax Credit are the two largest refundable credits. If you earned income below certain thresholds, you may receive money back from the IRS even though no taxes were withheld from your paychecks.

The key difference is between a regular credit and a refundable one. A regular credit reduces the tax you owe. A refundable credit reduces your tax to zero and then pays you the remainder. If you had no income tax withheld and no tax liability, a refundable credit can still result in a payment to you.

This is not information programs — it is a credit you have earned through your income or family situation. The IRS considers you to have "paid" through the credit itself, not through withholding.

Key Takeaways

  • Refundable tax credits like the EITC and Child Tax Credit can pay you money even if you had no taxes withheld and owe nothing.
  • You must file a tax return to receive a refund from a refundable credit, even if you had no income tax withheld.
  • The EITC is available to workers with low to moderate income, and the amount depends on your income, filing status, and number of children.
  • The Child Tax Credit provides up to a certain amount per child under age 17, and the refundable portion (Additional Child Tax Credit) is paid to you if the credit exceeds your tax liability.

How the Earned Income Tax Credit works without withholding

The EITC is designed for workers with low to moderate income. You do not need to have had taxes withheld to receive it. The credit amount depends on how much you earned, your filing status (single, married filing jointly, head of household), and whether you have may have access to children.

If you earned money but had no withholding — perhaps from self-employment, gig work, or a job that did not withhold — you can still file a return and claim the EITC. The IRS will calculate the credit based on your actual income and send you the full amount if it exceeds any tax you owe.

The income limits change each year. For the 2023 tax year, the maximum income to receive any EITC was around $60,000 for married filers with three or more children, but lower for single filers and those without children. Check the IRS website or a tax professional for the current year's limits.

The Child Tax Credit and Additional Child Tax Credit

The regular Child Tax Credit reduces your tax liability by a set amount per may have access to child under age 17. If you have no tax liability, this credit alone will not pay you anything.

However, the Additional Child Tax Credit (also called the refundable portion) can pay you up to a certain amount per child even if you owe no tax. This is the refundable part. To receive the Additional Child Tax Credit, you must have earned income during the year — it is not paid to people with no income at all.

The refundable amount is limited to a percentage of your earned income above a threshold, which changes annually. This means the more you earned, the more of the credit you can receive as a refund.

Why you still need to file a return

Even if no taxes were withheld from your income and you expect a refund instead of owing money, you must file a tax return to receive it. The IRS does not automatically send refundable credits — you have to claim them.

If you do not file, you do not receive the refund. There is no automatic payment. You can file a return on paper using Form 1040 and the appropriate schedules, or you can use tax software or a tax professional.

Some people delay filing because they think they owe money or because they had no withholding. This is a mistake if you are may have access to to a refundable credit. Filing costs nothing if you use free software or a free tax clinic, and the refund can be significant.

Self-employment and gig work income

If you earned money from self-employment, freelancing, or gig work and had no taxes withheld, you are in a common situation for refundable credits. Many gig workers have low net income after expenses, which can make them may be able to access for the EITC.

You will need to report your income and expenses on Schedule C (for self-employment) or Schedule 1 (for other income), then file your full return. Once your net income is calculated, you can claim the EITC or Child Tax Credit based on that amount.

Keep records of what you earned and what you spent on the work. This documentation helps you calculate your actual income and supports your return if the IRS has questions.

What happens after you file

Once you file your return claiming a refundable credit, the IRS processes it. Processing times vary, but the IRS typically issues refunds within 21 days of accepting your return if you file electronically and request direct deposit.

The refund is deposited into the bank account you provide, or mailed as a check if you request that method. You can check the status of your refund on the IRS website using the "Where's My Refund?" tool, which updates once a day.

If the IRS has questions about your return, they will contact you by mail. This is rare for straightforward returns, but it can delay your refund.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to have earned income to get a refund?

Yes, for refundable credits like the EITC and Additional Child Tax Credit. You must have earned income during the year — income from work, self-employment, or gig platforms. Unearned income like Social Security, unemployment, or investment income does not count toward these credits.

What if I had some income but also received unemployment or benefits?

Report all income on your return. Some benefits reduce your EITC, while others do not. Unemployment benefits, for example, count as income for EITC purposes in most cases. File your complete return and let the IRS calculate what you are may have access to to based on all your income sources.

Can I file a return just to get a refundable credit if I had no taxes withheld?

Yes. You do not need to have had taxes withheld to file a return and claim a refundable credit. File the return, claim the credit you are may have access to to, and the IRS will send you the refund.

What if I owe back taxes from a previous year?

The IRS may offset your refund against back taxes, child support, or other federal debts. If you know you owe from a prior year, contact the IRS before filing to understand what will happen to your refund. You may still receive part of it.

Is there a important date to file for a refund?

You have three years from the original tax important date to file a return and claim a refund. If you do not file within three years, you lose the refund. File as soon as you have the information you need.