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

The federal child tax credit for 2024 is $2,000 per may have access to child under age 17 at the end of the tax year. This amount has stayed the same since 2018. The credit reduces the federal income tax you owe, and if the credit is larger than your tax bill, you may receive the difference as a refund — though the refundable portion has limits.

The credit begins to phase out (reduce) when your modified adjusted gross income reaches certain thresholds. For 2024, the phase-out starts at $400,000 for married couples filing jointly and $200,000 for single filers. For every $1,000 over these thresholds, the credit decreases by $50.

Key Takeaways

  • The credit is $2,000 per child under 17, and you can claim it for each may have access to child on your household.
  • The credit phases out at $400,000 of income for married couples filing jointly and $200,000 for single filers.
  • Up to $1,700 of the credit may be refundable in 2024, meaning you can receive it even if you owe no tax.
  • You must have a valid Social Security number for each child to claim the credit on your tax return.
  • The credit amount and refundable portion can change year to year, so the 2024 amounts may differ from prior years.

How the refundable portion works

Part of the child tax credit is refundable, which means you can receive money back even if you paid no federal income tax during the year. For 2024, up to $1,700 per child is refundable. The remaining $300 per child is non-refundable, so it can only reduce your tax bill to zero — it cannot create a refund beyond that.

To receive the refundable portion, you must have earned income during the year. The refundable credit is limited to 15 percent of your earned income above $2,500. This means if your earned income is very low, the refundable amount you receive may be less than $1,700 per child.

Income limits and how they affect your credit

Your credit amount depends partly on how much income you earned. The phase-out thresholds for 2024 are $400,000 for married couples filing jointly, $200,000 for single filers, and $200,000 for heads of household. If your income is below these amounts, you receive the full $2,000 per child.

Once your income exceeds the threshold for your filing status, the credit decreases by $50 for every $1,000 (or fraction of $1,000) over the limit. For example, if you are single with $205,000 in income, you are $5,000 over the $200,000 threshold, so your credit reduces by $250 (5 × $50), bringing it to $1,750 per child instead of $2,000.

Who counts as a may have access to child

To claim the credit for a child, that child must be your son, daughter, stepchild, foster child, sibling, or descendant of any of these (such as a grandchild or niece). The child must be under age 17 at the end of the tax year, live with you for more than half the year, and be a U.S. citizen, national, or resident alien with a valid Social Security number.

The child must also be claimed as a dependent on your tax return. If you and another person both could claim the same child, only one of you can claim the credit. Usually this is settled by custody arrangements or a written agreement between the parents.

Differences between 2024 and prior years

The $2,000 per-child amount has been in place since 2018. However, the refundable portion has changed. In 2021 and 2022, the refundable portion was temporarily increased to $1,800 per child as part of pandemic relief. For 2023 and 2024, it returned to $1,700 per child.

The income thresholds and phase-out rules have also remained stable since 2018. If you claimed this credit in prior years, the basic structure is the same for 2024, though you should verify the current refundable amount and thresholds when you file, as these can change with new tax law.

How to claim the credit on your tax return

You claim the child tax credit by filing a federal income tax return, even if you normally would not have to file. You will need the child's full name, date of birth, and valid Social Security number for each child you want to claim. This information goes on Schedule 8812 (if you are claiming the refundable portion) or directly on Form 1040, depending on your situation.

If you use tax software or work with a tax preparer, they will ask you questions about each child and calculate the credit for you. If you file by hand, you will fill out the child tax credit section of your return and attach any required schedules. The IRS will verify the information you provide against Social Security records.

What happens if your income changes mid-year

Your credit is based on your income for the entire tax year, not just part of it. If you earned $180,000 but expected to earn $220,000, you still calculate your credit based on the full $220,000 you actually earned. This means you may owe back part of a credit you received earlier in the year if your income turned out to be higher than you thought.

If you received advance child tax credit payments in prior years (which some households did in 2021), those payments reduced the amount of credit you could claim when you filed your return. For 2024, there are no advance payments — the full credit is claimed when you file your tax return.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. Each child must have a valid Social Security number to claim the credit. If a child does not have one, you cannot claim the credit for that child, even if the child otherwise meets all other requirements.

What if I share custody of a child with another parent?

Only one parent can claim the credit for each child. Usually the parent with primary custody claims it, but you and the other parent can agree in writing that the other parent will claim it instead. Whoever claims the child as a dependent on the tax return is the one who claims the credit.

Do I have to file a tax return to get the refundable portion of the credit?

Yes. You must file a federal income tax return to claim any part of the child tax credit, including the refundable portion. Even if you had no tax withheld and owe no tax, filing allows you to receive the refundable credit as a refund.

Will the $2,000 amount change for 2025?

The credit amount can change if Congress passes new tax law. For 2024, it remains $2,000 per child. You should check current tax information closer to the 2025 filing season to learn whether the amount has changed.

What if my child turns 17 during 2024?

Your child must be under age 17 at the end of the tax year (December 31, 2024) to may have access to. If your child turns 17 on December 31, 2024, they do not meet the age requirement for the 2024 credit. If they turn 17 on January 1, 2025 or later, they do may have access to for the 2024 credit.