The 2024 Child Tax Credit amount

The Child Tax Credit for 2024 is $2,000 per may have access to child under age 17. This is the same amount it has been since 2018. The credit reduces the federal income tax you owe, dollar for dollar — if you owe $3,000 in tax and you have one may have access to child, the credit brings what you owe down to $1,000.

The credit begins to phase out (shrink) if your modified adjusted gross income exceeds certain thresholds. For married couples filing jointly, the phase-out starts at $400,000 of income. For single filers and heads of household, it starts at $200,000. For each $1,000 (or fraction of $1,000) of income above those thresholds, the credit reduces by $50.

You can receive up to $1,600 of the credit as a refund if you have little or no tax to pay — this is called the refundable portion. The remaining $400 per child is non-refundable, meaning it can only reduce tax you actually owe, not create a refund.

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.
  • You can receive up to $1,600 per child as a refund even if you owe no tax, but the remaining $400 per child cannot be refunded.
  • The credit phases out if your income exceeds $400,000 (married filing jointly) or $200,000 (single or head of household).
  • A child must be a U.S. citizen, national, or resident alien with a valid Social Security number to count toward the credit.

Who can claim the credit

To claim a child on the 2024 Child Tax Credit, the child must be under age 17 at the end of 2024, be your son, daughter, stepchild, foster child, sibling, or descendant of any of these (including adopted children), and have a valid Social Security number. The child must also be a U.S. citizen, national, or resident alien.

You must have a valid Social Security number yourself and cannot be a dependent of another person. If you are married, you generally must file a joint return to claim the credit, though there are limited exceptions.

The child must live with you for more than half the year. Time spent away at school, medical care, military service, or detention counts as time living with you. If the child was born or died during 2024, they still count as long as they meet the other requirements.

How the refundable portion works

The refundable part of the Child Tax Credit — up to $1,600 per child — can come back to you as a refund even if you owe no federal income tax. This is sometimes called the Additional Child Tax Credit or the refundable Child Tax Credit.

To receive the refund, you must have earned income during the year (wages, self-employment income, or certain other types). The refund is limited to 15 percent of your earned income above $2,500. For example, if you earned $10,000 and have one may have access to child, 15 percent of $7,500 ($10,000 minus $2,500) is $1,125 — so you would receive a $1,125 refund, not the full $1,600.

You claim the refundable portion on your tax return by filing Form 1040 and Schedule 8812. The IRS calculates how much you are may have access to to receive.

Income limits and phase-out

The Child Tax Credit does not disappear entirely at the income thresholds — it shrinks gradually. For every $1,000 of income (or any part of $1,000) above the threshold, the credit reduces by $50 per child.

If you are married filing jointly, the phase-out begins at $400,000 of modified adjusted gross income. If you are single, head of household, or married filing separately, it begins at $200,000. Your modified adjusted gross income is usually the same as your adjusted gross income shown on your tax return, though certain foreign income and other items can change it.

The phase-out can eliminate the credit entirely if your income is high enough. For a married couple with one child, the credit would be completely gone at $450,000 of income ($400,000 threshold plus $50,000 ÷ $50 per $1,000 = $50,000 additional income).

How to claim the credit on your tax return

You claim the Child Tax Credit on Form 1040 (the main federal income tax form) by entering information about each may have access to child: their name, date of birth, Social Security number, and relationship to you. The IRS provides lines or a worksheet where you list this information.

If you are claiming the refundable portion (Additional Child Tax Credit), you also complete Schedule 8812 and attach it to your Form 1040. This schedule calculates how much of the credit can be refunded to you based on your earned income.

You can file your return on paper or electronically through tax software or a tax professional. If you file electronically, the software will guide you through entering the child information and calculate the credit automatically.

What changed from 2023 to 2024

The credit amount itself — $2,000 per child — did not change from 2023 to 2024. The income thresholds for phase-out also remained the same: $400,000 for married couples filing jointly and $200,000 for other filers.

The refundable portion (up to $1,600 per child) and the earned income threshold of $2,500 also stayed the same. Tax law can change year to year, so it is worth checking the IRS website or a tax professional if you are unsure whether anything has shifted for the current year.

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, and you must provide it on your return. If your child was born in 2024 and does not yet have a number, you can request one from the Social Security Administration and amend your return once you receive it.

What if my child turned 17 during 2024?

You cannot claim the credit for that child on your 2024 return because the child must be under age 17 at the end of the tax year (December 31, 2024). If the child turns 17 on January 1, 2025, they do not count for 2024.

Do I lose the entire credit if my income is above the threshold?

No. The credit phases out gradually — it reduces by $50 for every $1,000 (or part of $1,000) of income above the threshold. Depending on how far above the threshold you are, you may still receive a partial credit.

Can I claim the credit if I am not a U.S. citizen?

You must have a valid Social Security number and generally be a U.S. citizen, national, or resident alien to claim the credit. If you have an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) instead, you cannot claim it. A tax professional can review your specific situation.

What is the difference between the Child Tax Credit and the Child and Dependent Care Credit?

The Child Tax Credit is $2,000 per child under 17 and reduces your tax based on the child's age and your income. The Child and Dependent Care Credit is a separate credit for expenses you paid for childcare or adult dependent care so you could work, and the amount varies based on what you spent. You can claim both credits in the same year if you meet the requirements for each.