The Child Tax Credit is not being paid monthly in 2024 the way it was in 2021 and 2022

The monthly Child Tax Credit (CTC) payments that arrived in bank accounts from July through December 2021, and again in 2022, have ended. In 2024, the Child Tax Credit works the way it did before the pandemic: you claim it once a year on your tax return, not as monthly payments throughout the year.

The credit itself still exists. Families with children under 17 can still claim up to $2,000 per child when they file their 2024 tax return in early 2025. But you will not receive that money as a series of deposits. Instead, you will receive it as a refund or as a reduction in the taxes you owe, depending on your situation.

This shift happened because Congress did not renew the expanded CTC that was part of the American Rescue Plan. That temporary expansion ended after 2022, and the credit reverted to its previous structure.

Key Takeaways

  • Monthly CTC payments ended in December 2022; the 2024 credit is claimed only on your tax return filed in early 2025.
  • You can still claim up to $2,000 per child under 17, but you receive it as part of your refund or tax bill, not as monthly deposits.
  • The IRS has no new CTC payment schedule to announce for 2024 because the program structure has not changed since it reverted in 2023.
  • If you received advance CTC payments in 2021 or 2022, you may have had to repay some or all of it on your 2022 tax return if your income changed.

Why the monthly payments stopped

The expanded Child Tax Credit that paid families monthly was part of the American Rescue Plan, a temporary pandemic relief measure passed in March 2021. That law increased the credit from $2,000 to up to $3,600 per child and allowed the IRS to send half the credit as monthly payments from July through December 2021. Congress extended those monthly payments through 2022.

When 2022 ended, Congress did not pass legislation to continue the monthly payment structure. The credit automatically reverted to the standard version: $2,000 per child, claimed once per year on your tax return. There is no pending legislation in 2024 to restore monthly payments, and the IRS has made no announcements about changes to how the credit works for the 2024 tax year.

How to claim the Child Tax Credit on your 2024 tax return

When you file your 2024 tax return in early 2025, you will claim the Child Tax Credit on Form 1040 or through tax software. You will need the Social Security number for each child under 17 as of December 31, 2024, and proof that you are their parent or legal guardian.

The credit is worth up to $2,000 per child. The amount you can claim depends on your income. If your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) is above a certain threshold — $400,000 for married couples filing jointly, $200,000 for single filers — the credit begins to phase out. For every $1,000 (or fraction thereof) of income above the threshold, the credit reduces by $50.

If the credit is larger than the taxes you owe, you may receive the difference as a refund. If you owe taxes, the credit reduces what you owe before you calculate your refund or payment.

What happened if you received advance CTC payments in 2021 or 2022

If you got monthly CTC payments during 2021 or 2022, the IRS sent you half the credit in advance. The other half was supposed to come when you filed your tax return. But if your income changed during the year, or if you received payments for a child who did not meet the requirements, you had to repay some or all of the advance payments on your tax return.

This repayment obligation caused confusion and financial hardship for many families. Some people who received $3,600 per child in monthly payments ended up owing money back when they filed their 2021 or 2022 return because their income was higher than expected or because they claimed a child they were not may have access to to claim.

If you are still dealing with a debt from those years, contact the IRS directly or work with a tax professional. The IRS has payment plans available for tax debt, and some people may be able to request relief if they can show financial hardship.

Income limits and phase-out rules for 2024

Your income determines how much of the $2,000 per-child credit you can claim. The phase-out thresholds for 2024 are $400,000 for married couples filing jointly, $200,000 for single filers, and $200,000 for heads of household.

If your MAGI is at or below these thresholds, you can claim the full $2,000 per child. For every $1,000 of income above the threshold (or any part of $1,000), the credit reduces by $50 per child. This means that at very high income levels, the credit may be reduced to zero.

MAGI is usually your adjusted gross income (AGI) from your tax return, but certain types of income are added back for this calculation. If you are unsure whether your income puts you in phase-out territory, a tax professional or the IRS Free File program can help you calculate it.

Children who do and do not count for the credit

You can claim the credit for each child who was under 17 as of December 31, 2024, and who you can claim as a dependent on your tax return. The child must be your son, daughter, stepchild, foster child, sibling, or descendant of any of these (such as a grandchild or niece). The child must have lived with you for more than half the year, and you must provide more than half their financial support.

The child must have a valid Social Security number and be a U.S. citizen, national, or resident alien. If a child was born on December 31, 2024, they count as under 17 for the entire year. If they turned 17 on any date during 2024, they do not count.

You cannot claim the credit for a child if someone else claims them as a dependent — for example, if the child's other parent claims them in a custody arrangement. Only one person can claim each child.

Where to find official IRS information about the CTC

The IRS publishes information about the Child Tax Credit on its website at irs.gov. You can search for "Child Tax Credit" to find the current rules, income limits, and worksheets. Publication 972, "Child Tax Credit," contains detailed guidance on who counts, how to calculate the credit, and what to do if your situation changed during the year.

If you have questions about whether you can claim the credit or how much you can claim, the IRS Free File program offers free tax preparation software for people below certain income thresholds. Many community organizations also offer free tax preparation help through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will monthly CTC payments come back in 2024 or 2025?

There is no current legislation to restore monthly payments, and the IRS has made no announcements about changes to the credit structure for 2024 or 2025. Congress would need to pass a new law to bring back monthly payments. You should claim the credit on your tax return as usual.

What if I did not file a tax return in 2021 or 2022 but received CTC payments?

You may still owe a tax return for those years. Contact the IRS or a tax professional to determine whether you need to file and whether you owe repayment. The IRS has extended some deadlines for people in this situation, but it is best to act soon.

Can I claim the credit if my child has an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) instead of a Social Security number?

No. The child must have a valid Social Security number to count for the Child Tax Credit. An ITIN does not meet this requirement. You may be able to claim other tax benefits for a child with an ITIN, but not the CTC.

What if my income is too high to claim the full credit?

The credit phases out above $400,000 (married filing jointly) or $200,000 (single). You can still claim a reduced amount if your income is above the threshold but not so high that the credit phases out completely. Use Publication 972 or tax software to calculate the exact amount.

Do I have to file a tax return to claim the CTC?

Yes. The only way to claim the Child Tax Credit in 2024 is to file a tax return. If your income is below the filing threshold, you may not normally be required to file, but filing allows you to claim the credit and may result in a refund.