US Child Tax Credit Calculator
Calculate total child tax credits and dependent tax benefits. Check eligibility and estimate refunds based on income and number of dependents.
Filing Information
Credit Calculation
You qualify for the full credit
Qualifying Children
To qualify, the child must be a U.S. citizen, national, or resident alien, under age 17 at the end of the year, and claimed as a dependent on your tax return.
Phase-Out Rules
The credit reduces by $50 for every $1,000 (or fraction thereof) of income above the threshold. Higher earners may not qualify for the full credit.
Refundable Portion
Up to $1,700 of the credit is refundable (the Additional Child Tax Credit), meaning you can get a refund even if you owe no taxes.
Other Dependents
Other dependents over 17 (such as adult children or elderly parents) qualify for a $500 dependent credit instead.
Important:
This is a simplified estimate. Actual tax credits depend on your complete tax return, including all income sources and deductions. Consult a tax professional or use IRS Publication 972 for official guidance.
What the Child Tax Credit Is Worth in 2024
The federal Child Tax Credit (CTC) is worth up to $2,000 per qualifying child under 17, with up to $1,700 of that refundable in 2024 (the Additional Child Tax Credit). Refundable means you get the credit even if you owe no tax. The credit phases out for higher incomes: full credit up to $200,000 single / $400,000 MFJ, then $50 reduction per $1,000 of income above.
A married couple with two kids and $80,000 income gets the full $4,000 credit, reducing their tax bill to zero plus a $3,400 refund (refundable portion). The same family at $500,000 income loses some of the credit to the phase-out but still keeps most of it. Above $480,000 (MFJ) the credit is fully phased out.
Who Qualifies as a Child for the Credit
The child must be under 17 at year-end, related to you (biological, step, foster, sibling, niece/nephew, grandchild), claimed as a dependent on your return, US citizen or resident, lived with you more than half the year, and have a valid Social Security Number. The age requirement (under 17, not 18) catches some 17-year-olds in their senior year of high school.
For the Credit for Other Dependents ($500 nonrefundable), the qualifying-relative test is broader and includes adult children, parents, and other qualifying relatives. The CTC is much more valuable than ODC, so structure dependent claims carefully if you have multiple eligible relatives in the household.
How It Interacts with EITC and Other Credits
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) stacks on top of CTC for low-to-moderate-income working families. A single parent with two kids earning $30,000 might get the full $4,000 CTC plus around $6,000 EITC - $10,000 of refundable credits. Both phase out as income rises, but at different rates and thresholds.
Child and Dependent Care Credit (childcare expenses, separate from CTC) provides 20-35% of up to $3,000 of expenses for one child, $6,000 for two+. Premium Tax Credit (ACA marketplace insurance) is calculated independently. These all flow through Form 1040 and Schedule 8812 (CTC). Use the [US Income Tax Calculator](/us-income-tax-calculator) to model the full credit stack.
What Changed Recently and What Might Change
The 2021 American Rescue Plan temporarily expanded CTC to $3,000-3,600 per child and made it fully refundable with monthly advance payments. That expansion expired at the end of 2021; the credit returned to $2,000 with $1,700 refundable in 2024. A bipartisan bill in early 2024 proposed expanding refundability and per-child amount but stalled in the Senate.
Future expansions are politically possible but should not be assumed for planning. If a major bill passes mid-year, IRS often issues mid-year tables and updates. Stay current via IRS.gov updates. State-level CTCs exist in some states (California, Colorado, Massachusetts, NY) on top of federal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to apply for the Child Tax Credit?
No, but you do have to claim it on your federal tax return (Form 1040 + Schedule 8812). If you have a qualifying child, the credit is calculated automatically by tax software based on your dependent information. Failing to file a return means leaving the credit unclaimed, even though you qualified.
Can both parents claim the child?
No. Only one parent can claim a child as a dependent in any given tax year. Divorced or separated parents typically alternate years (per their separation agreement) or assign permanently per Form 8332. Both claiming the same child triggers IRS audit flags and one gets disallowed.
What if my child was born in December?
A child born any time during the tax year qualifies for the full credit, including December. The 'must have lived with you more than half the year' test is automatically satisfied for any child born during the year - the IRS considers them to have lived with you the whole year for this purpose.
Can I get the credit if I had no income?
Yes, but only the refundable portion (up to $1,700 per child in 2024). The refundable amount is calculated as 15% of earned income over $2,500. With no earned income, no refundable credit is paid out. Investment income alone does not qualify.
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