The 2024 child tax credit is $2,000 per child under age 17

The federal Child Tax Credit for 2024 is $2,000 for each child you claim who is under 17 at the end of the tax year. This is the same amount as 2023. The credit reduces the federal income tax you owe, dollar for dollar — if you owe $3,000 in tax and you have two children, the $4,000 credit wipes out your tax bill and you receive a refund of $1,000.

The credit begins to phase out (reduce) if your income exceeds certain thresholds. For single filers, the phase-out starts at $400,000 of modified adjusted gross income. For married couples filing jointly, it starts at $800,000. For each $1,000 (or fraction of $1,000) over the threshold, the credit reduces by $50.

You must have a valid Social Security number for each child to claim the credit. The child must be your son, daughter, stepchild, foster child, sibling, or a descendant of any of these — and they must live with you for more than half the year.

Key Takeaways

  • The 2024 Child Tax Credit is $2,000 per child under age 17, and it reduces your federal income tax dollar for dollar.
  • The credit phases out if your income exceeds $400,000 (single) or $800,000 (married filing jointly), reducing by $50 for each $1,000 over the limit.
  • Each child must have a valid Social Security number and live with you for more than half the tax year to be claimed.
  • If the credit is larger than the tax you owe, you may receive the difference as a refund, up to $1,700 per child in 2024.

Refundable vs. non-refundable portions of the credit

The Child Tax Credit has two parts. Up to $1,600 of the $2,000 per child is refundable, meaning you can receive it as a refund even if you owe no tax. The remaining $400 per child is non-refundable — it can only reduce the tax you owe, not generate a refund.

To receive the refundable portion, you must have earned income (wages, self-employment income, or other work-related earnings). The refundable amount is limited to 15 percent of your earned income above $2,500. For example, if you earned $20,000 and owe no tax, 15 percent of ($20,000 minus $2,500) is $2,625 — but the refundable credit is capped at $1,600 per child, so you would receive $1,600 per child you claim, up to your total refund limit.

Income limits and how the phase-out works

The credit does not disappear entirely at high incomes — it reduces gradually. The phase-out threshold is $400,000 for single filers and $800,000 for married couples filing jointly. If your modified adjusted gross income is $410,000 (single), you are $10,000 over the threshold. The credit reduces by $50 for each $1,000 (or part of $1,000) over the limit. Since $10,000 is ten full $1,000 increments, the reduction is $500 total — so instead of $2,000 per child, you receive $1,500 per child.

If you are $10,100 over the threshold, the reduction is still $550 (eleven $1,000 increments, rounded up), not $505. This rounding rule means the phase-out can reduce your credit more steeply than the stated $50 per $1,000 if your income falls in certain ranges.

Who can claim the credit and what documents you need

You can claim the Child Tax Credit if you are a U.S. citizen, national, or resident alien with a valid Social Security number. Your child must also have a valid Social Security number (not an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, or ITIN). The child must be under 17 at the end of the tax year, related to you as described above, and live with you for more than half the year — not counting temporary absences for school, medical care, or military service.

When you file your tax return, you will report the child's name, date of birth, and Social Security number on Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR. You do not need to submit separate documents to claim the credit, but you should keep records showing the child lived with you (lease, utility bills, school records) in case the IRS asks. If you are divorced or separated, only one parent can claim each child — usually the parent with primary custody, unless you have a written agreement stating otherwise.

How the credit changed from 2023 to 2024

The Child Tax Credit amount stayed at $2,000 per child from 2023 to 2024. The income thresholds and phase-out rules also remained the same. The refundable portion (the amount you can receive as a refund) is $1,600 in 2024, the same as 2023.

The credit is set to change after 2025. Under current law, the amount will drop to $1,000 per child and the phase-out thresholds will decrease to $200,000 (single) and $400,000 (married filing jointly) beginning in 2026, unless Congress extends or modifies the current rules. These changes are not certain — Congress may pass new legislation before 2026 — so check the IRS website or a tax professional closer to that year if you want to plan ahead.

Claiming the credit when you have shared custody

If you and the child's other parent are divorced, separated, or never married, only one of you can claim the child for the tax credit in any given year. The IRS generally allows the parent with primary custody (the one with whom the child lives for the greater number of nights during the year) to claim the credit.

If you have a custody order or written agreement that says the other parent can claim the child, that parent can claim the credit instead — but you must attach a copy of the relevant part of the order or agreement to your tax return. If both parents try to claim the same child, the IRS will disallow the credit for one of you and may assess penalties. Coordinate with the other parent before filing to avoid this.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I claim the credit if my child has an ITIN instead of a Social Security number?

No. The child must have a valid Social Security number to be claimed for the Child Tax Credit. An ITIN does not may have access to. If your child is a U.S. citizen or resident alien but does not yet have a Social Security number, you can obtain one by filing Form SS-5 at your local Social Security office or online at ssa.gov.

What if my child turns 17 during 2024?

You can claim the credit for a child who turns 17 during 2024 only if they are still under 17 at the end of the tax year (December 31, 2024). A child who turns 17 on December 31, 2024, qualifies. A child who turns 17 on January 1, 2025, does not may have access to for the 2024 credit.

Do I lose the credit if my child is a full-time student?

No. Full-time student status does not affect the Child Tax Credit. The only age requirement is that the child be under 17 at the end of the tax year. A child can be in high school, college, or graduate school and you can still claim the credit, as long as they meet the other requirements (relationship, residency, Social Security number).

What happens if I claim the credit and the IRS says I made a mistake?

The IRS will send you a notice explaining the issue — usually that the child's Social Security number was incorrect, the child did not live with you for the required time, or you reported the wrong relationship. You can respond to the notice with documentation (birth certificate, lease, school records) to support your claim. If the IRS disallows the credit, you may owe back taxes plus interest, but you can appeal through the IRS dispute process.