The Child Tax Credit gives you up to $2,000 per child under age 17

The Child Tax Credit reduces the federal income tax you owe, dollar for dollar. For the 2024 tax year, you can claim up to $2,000 for each child under age 17 at the end of the year. The credit phases out if your income exceeds certain thresholds — $400,000 for married couples filing jointly, $200,000 for single filers.

The amount you actually receive depends on your tax liability and income. If you owe $3,000 in federal tax and have two children, the credit can reduce that to $1,000. If you owe less than the credit amount, you may get a refund for the difference — but only up to $1,700 per child, which is the refundable portion of the credit.

The credit is not the same as the advance payments some families received in 2021 and 2022. Those were temporary expansions. The current $2,000 per child amount has been in place since 2018 and is set to expire after 2025 unless Congress extends it.

Key Takeaways

  • The credit is $2,000 per child under 17 for the 2024 tax year, and it reduces your federal tax bill directly.
  • If the credit is larger than the tax you owe, you can receive up to $1,700 per child as a refund.
  • The credit begins to phase out at $400,000 of income for married couples filing jointly and $200,000 for single filers.
  • You must have a valid Social Security number for each child to claim the credit on your tax return.

How the Refundable Portion Works

Part of the Child Tax Credit is refundable, meaning you can get money back even if you owe no tax. For 2024, up to $1,700 per child can be refunded to you. The remaining $300 per child is non-refundable — it can only reduce the tax you owe, not create a refund.

Example: You have one child and owe $500 in federal tax. The $2,000 credit first wipes out your $500 tax bill. The remaining $1,500 can be refunded to you, because the refundable limit is $1,700. You receive a $1,500 refund.

Another example: You have one child and owe no federal tax. You can still receive up to $1,700 as a refund. The non-refundable $300 portion does not create additional money for you.

Income Limits and Phase-Out

The credit begins to shrink once your income passes a threshold. For married couples filing jointly, the phase-out starts at $400,000. For single filers and heads of household, it starts at $200,000. For married couples filing separately, it starts at $100,000.

For every $1,000 of income above the threshold (or fraction thereof), the credit reduces by $50. If you earn $401,000 as a married couple filing jointly, your credit drops by $50 per child. At $402,000, it drops by $100 per child.

The phase-out can eliminate the credit entirely for very high earners, though this affects relatively few households. Most families with incomes under $400,000 receive the full $2,000 per child.

What Documents You Need

To claim the Child Tax Credit, you need a valid Social Security number for each child. The number must be issued by the Social Security Administration, not an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). You also need proof of the child's relationship to you — typically a birth certificate, adoption papers, or court order establishing guardianship.

When you file your tax return, you enter the child's name, date of birth, and Social Security number on the form. The IRS matches this information against Social Security Administration records. If the number does not match or is invalid, the credit will be denied and your return may be delayed.

Keep your supporting documents (birth certificate, adoption decree, guardianship order) in your records for at least three years. The IRS can request them during an audit.

Who Can Claim the Credit

You can claim the credit if the child is your biological child, adopted child, stepchild, foster child, sibling, or descendant of a sibling (such as a niece or nephew), and you provide more than half their financial support for the year. The child must live with you for more than half the year — temporary absences for school, medical care, or military service do not count against this requirement.

The child must be under age 17 at the end of the tax year. A child who turns 17 on December 31 does not may have access to; a child who turns 17 on January 1 of the following year does.

You must be a U.S. citizen, national, or resident alien to claim the credit. If you are married, you can file jointly even if one spouse is not a resident alien, but both must have valid Social Security numbers or ITINs.

Changes to the Credit Over Time

The Child Tax Credit has changed several times in recent years. Before 2018, the credit was $1,000 per child. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 increased it to $2,000 starting in 2018. That law is set to expire after 2025, which means the credit would revert to $1,000 per child in 2026 unless Congress acts.

In 2021 and 2022, the American Rescue Plan temporarily expanded the credit to $3,000 per child ages 6 to 17 and $3,600 per child under 6. It also made the credit fully refundable and allowed families to receive half the credit as advance monthly payments. Those expansions ended after 2022.

The current $2,000 amount with the $1,700 refundable portion is what applies for 2024 and 2025, barring new legislation.

How to Claim the Credit on Your Tax Return

If you file your own return using tax software, you enter information about each child in the section labeled "Dependents" or "Children." The software will calculate the credit automatically based on your income and the number of may have access to children. You do not need to fill out a separate form.

If you file by mail, you list each child on Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR, along with their Social Security number and date of birth. The IRS instructions for the form explain where to enter this information. If you use a tax preparer, they will ask for the child's name, date of birth, and Social Security number and will handle the calculation.

The credit appears on your tax return as a reduction in the tax you owe. If the credit exceeds your tax liability, the refundable portion generates a refund that the IRS sends to you by mail or direct deposit, depending on how you filed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I claim the credit for a child who does not have a Social Security number?

No. The child must have a valid Social Security number issued by the Social Security Administration. An ITIN does not work for this credit. If your child does not have a number, you can request one from the Social Security Administration before filing your return.

What if my child turns 17 during the year?

You can claim the credit for that year. The child's age is determined on December 31 of the tax year. If your child turns 17 on any date from January 1 through December 31, they are considered 17 at year-end and do not may have access to.

Do I lose the credit if my income is too high?

The credit does not disappear entirely, but it shrinks. For every $1,000 of income above the threshold (or fraction thereof), the credit reduces by $50 per child. At very high incomes, the credit can be eliminated, but this affects only a small number of households.

Can I claim the credit if I do not owe any federal tax?

Yes. The refundable portion of the credit (up to $1,700 per child for 2024) can be paid to you as a refund even if you owe no tax. You must file a return to receive this refund.

What happens if the IRS rejects my child's Social Security number?

The IRS will deny the credit and may delay processing your return. Contact the Social Security Administration to verify the number is correct and active. Once you confirm the number, you can file an amended return (Form 1040-X) to claim the credit.