With the regular application period for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) having closed, applicants' attention is shifting to the 'screening results' and 'payment schedule.' The National Tax Service plans to proceed with the payment process after comprehensively screening this year's received applications based on income, assets, and household type.

In particular, the National Tax Service plans to pay out the credit on August 27, which is more than a month ahead of the legal payment deadline at the end of September. Accordingly, households that have completed their applications will go through a screening process for about three months until the payment date. During this period, the National Tax Service will cross-reference the application details with various administrative data to determine eligibility and finalize the exact payment amount.

Recently, there has been a significant increase in the number of applicants trying to check their screening progress through Hometax and Sontax. Inquiries are continuously appearing on online communities, such as, "It says 'under screening'; when will the results be out?", "Can the expected payment amount differ from the actual payment amount?", and "Is it confirmed that it will be paid at the end of August?"

In practice, the final payment amount of the Earned Income Tax Credit may differ from the estimated amount provided at the time of application. This is because the income, asset scale, and household composition verified during the screening process are ultimately reflected. Once the screening is complete, the National Tax Service will individually notify eligible recipients, and once the payment decision is made, the credit will be deposited into the applicant's registered account.

This year, there are expectations that the early payment of the credit will provide some relief to working-class households amid ongoing inflationary pressures. However, since eligibility and payment amounts may vary depending on the results of individual screening, it is important to check the final notification.

[※ The information provided in this article is intended to aid general understanding of the policy, and actual payment eligibility and amounts may vary depending on individual circumstances. As government policies are subject to change, please be sure to consult official sources such as the National Tax Service. AI was utilized in the process of compiling some of the data for this article.]