Kansas Earned Income Tax Credit
Last updated August 2026
Kansas has a state Earned Income Tax Credit, or EITC, for working residents. It is worth 17 percent of your federal EITC. You claim it on line 17 of your Kansas income tax return, Form K-40. There is no separate application.
The best part is that it is refundable. If your Kansas EITC is larger than the Kansas tax you owe, the extra is paid to you as a refund on line 22. So it can put cash in your pocket even when you owe little or no tax.
The credit builds on the federal EITC. First you figure your federal EITC on your federal tax return. Then you multiply that federal amount by 17 percent to get your Kansas amount. You generally must qualify for the federal EITC first.
There is a short worksheet. The K-40 instructions include an EITC Worksheet. You complete it, and if the result is more than the tax you owe, the extra flows to line 22 as a refundable credit.
Watch one timing tip. If you asked the IRS to compute your federal EITC for you, wait for the IRS figure before you finish the Kansas worksheet. That way your Kansas number is correct.
This is worth claiming even on a low income. Because it is refundable, file your Kansas return even if your income is low enough that you owe no tax. Missing the filing means missing the money. If you need free help, dial 2-1-1, which lists tax filing help among its top requests.
Updated August 2026 Program details can change — confirm with the program directly.
Who qualifies
- You generally must qualify for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit and file a Kansas income tax return
- The credit equals 17 percent of your federal EITC and is fully refundable, so file even if your income is low enough that you owe no tax
You may qualify. The program makes the final decision.
How to apply
- 1
First qualify for and figure your federal EITC on your federal tax return.
- 2
Multiply your federal EITC by 17 percent to get your Kansas amount.
- 3
Complete the EITC Worksheet in the Kansas K-40 instructions.
- 4
Enter the credit on line 17 of Form K-40, and any refundable portion on line 22.
- 5
If the IRS is computing your federal EITC, wait for its figure before finishing the worksheet.
What to have ready
- Your completed federal tax return with your federal EITC
- Your income and wage documents, like W-2 forms
- Your Kansas Form K-40 and its EITC Worksheet. The K-40 instructions confirm the exact steps.
What the application looks like
Common questions
How much is the Kansas EITC?
It equals 17 percent of your federal Earned Income Tax Credit.
Can it pay me if I owe no tax?
Yes. It is refundable. Any part larger than the Kansas tax you owe is paid to you as a refund on line 22 of Form K-40.
Do I need the federal EITC first?
Yes. You generally must qualify for the federal EITC, then multiply that amount by 17 percent for the Kansas credit.
How do I claim it?
Claim it on line 17 of your Kansas income tax return, Form K-40. There is no separate application.
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