The 2024 Child Tax Credit is up to $2,000 per child under age 17

The Child Tax Credit for 2024 allows you to reduce your federal income tax by up to $2,000 for each child under age 17 who is a U.S. citizen, national, or resident alien. The exact amount you receive depends on your income level and filing status. If the credit is larger than the tax you owe, you may get a refund for the difference — but only up to $1,700 per child through the Additional Child Tax Credit, which is a refundable portion of the main credit.

The $2,000 figure has remained the same since 2017. It does not change year to year unless Congress passes new legislation. However, the income thresholds that determine whether you get the full amount, a reduced amount, or nothing at all do shift slightly each year based on inflation.

Key Takeaways

  • The maximum credit is $2,000 per child under 17, but you only receive it if your income is below the phase-out threshold for your filing status.
  • If you earn more than $400,000 (married filing jointly) or $200,000 (single or head of household), the credit begins to shrink by $50 for every $1,000 over that limit.
  • Up to $1,700 of the credit is refundable, meaning you can get money back even if you owe no tax, but only if you have earned income.
  • You claim the credit on your federal tax return using Form 1040 and Schedule 8812; you do not receive it separately or in advance unless you received advance payments in a prior year.

Income limits and how the credit phases out

The full $2,000 credit is available only if your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) stays below a certain threshold. For 2024, those thresholds are $400,000 if you file as married filing jointly, $200,000 if you file as single or head of household, and $200,000 if you file as may have access to widow(er).

Once your income exceeds the threshold for your filing status, the credit shrinks. For every $1,000 (or fraction thereof) over the limit, you lose $50 of the credit per child. This reduction applies to the full $2,000 amount. For example, if you are single with one child and earn $210,000, you are $10,000 over the $200,000 threshold. That means your $2,000 credit is reduced by $500 (10 × $50), leaving you with a $1,500 credit.

The income thresholds are adjusted annually for inflation. The 2024 thresholds shown above are higher than 2023 thresholds, which were $350,000 and $175,000 respectively. Check the IRS website or your tax software for the exact 2024 figures that apply to your situation.

Refundable versus non-refundable portions

The Child Tax Credit has two parts: a non-refundable portion and a refundable portion. The non-refundable part reduces the tax you owe, dollar for dollar, up to the amount of tax you actually owe. If the credit is larger than your tax bill, the excess does not disappear — instead, the refundable portion kicks in.

The Additional Child Tax Credit (also called the refundable portion) allows you to receive up to $1,700 per child as a refund, even if you owe no federal income tax. However, this refundable portion is limited: it cannot exceed 15% of your earned income over $2,500. If you have no earned income or very low earned income, you may not be able to claim the full refundable amount.

For example, if you are single with two children, owe $800 in federal tax, and have a total credit of $4,000, you would use $800 to eliminate your tax bill. The remaining $3,200 would be subject to the refundable limit. If your earned income allows it, you could receive up to $3,400 as a refund ($1,700 × 2 children), but you would actually receive $3,200 because that is what remains after paying your tax.

Who can claim the credit

To claim the Child Tax Credit, the child must be your dependent, under age 17 at the end of 2024, and a U.S. citizen, national, or resident alien. The child must have a valid Social Security number, and you must provide that number on your tax return. The child can be your biological child, stepchild, adopted child, foster child, sibling, or descendant of any of these (such as a grandchild or niece).

You must also meet income requirements and have a valid filing status. If you are married, you generally must file jointly to claim the credit. If you are divorced or separated, the parent who has custody of the child for the greater part of the year can claim the credit, unless that parent signs a form releasing the right to the other parent.

You cannot claim the credit for a child if that child is claimed as a dependent by someone else — for instance, if the child's other parent claims them on a joint return, or if a grandparent claims them. Only one person can claim each child.

How to claim the credit on your tax return

You claim the Child Tax Credit on your federal Form 1040 (U.S. Individual Income Tax Return). The credit itself is reported on Schedule 8812 (Credits for may have access to Children and Other Dependents), which you attach to your Form 1040. You will need to provide each child's name, date of birth, and Social Security number.

If you use tax preparation software, the software will walk you through questions about your children and calculate the credit automatically. If you file by hand or with a tax professional, make sure you have each child's information ready before you start. The IRS matches the Social Security numbers you report against its records, so accuracy is important.

You file your return and claim the credit during tax season, which typically runs from late January through April 15. You do not receive the credit in advance or as a separate payment during the year — it reduces your tax bill when you file, or generates a refund if the refundable portion applies to you.

Advance payments and prior-year changes

In 2021 and 2022, the IRS sent advance payments of the Child Tax Credit to many families throughout the year, rather than waiting until tax time. Those advance payments were part of a temporary expansion of the credit during the pandemic. That expansion ended after 2021, and the credit returned to its previous $2,000 maximum in 2022.

If you received advance payments in 2021, you had to account for them when you filed your 2021 tax return. The IRS compared what you received in advance to what you were actually may have access to to claim. If you received too much, you had to repay the difference (though there were limits on repayment amounts for lower-income filers). If you received too little, you got the remainder as a credit on your return.

For 2024, there are no advance payments. You will claim the full credit amount on your tax return when you file in 2025. If Congress changes the credit structure in the future, you will see announcements from the IRS and tax software providers well before tax season.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I claim the credit if my child was born on December 31, 2024?

Yes. The child must be under age 17 at the end of the tax year (December 31, 2024), so a child born on that date qualifies. You will need the child's Social Security number to claim the credit. If the number has not been issued yet, you may be able to file your return and claim the credit using a temporary number, but check with the IRS or a tax professional about the current process.

What if my income is above the phase-out threshold?

Your credit is reduced by $50 for every $1,000 (or fraction of $1,000) that your income exceeds the threshold. You can still receive a partial credit unless your income is so high that the reduction eliminates it entirely. Use a tax calculator or consult a tax professional to determine your exact credit amount based on your income.

Do I lose the credit if I do not have a job?

You can still claim the credit even without employment income, as long as you have other income (such as investment income or Social Security) and meet the other requirements. However, the refundable portion of the credit is limited by your earned income, so if you have no earned income, you may not receive a refund — though the non-refundable portion can still reduce your tax bill.

Can my ex-spouse claim the child instead of me?

Only if you agree to release your right to claim the child. If you have custody of the child for more than half the year, you have the right to claim the credit. You can sign Form 8332 (Release/Revocation of Release of Claim to Exemption for Child by Custodial Parent) to allow your ex-spouse to claim the child instead. Without this form, the custodial parent claims the credit.

What if I claimed the wrong number of children on my return?

You can file an amended return using Form 1040-X to correct the number of children and recalculate your credit. If you claimed too few children, you will receive an additional refund. If you claimed too many, you will owe the difference. File the amended return as soon as you discover the error.