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

The Child Tax Credit for 2024 is $2,000 for each may have access to child under age 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, and you claim it when you file your 2024 tax return in early 2025.

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

You do not receive the credit automatically. You must claim it on your tax return, either on Form 1040 with Schedule 8812, or through tax software that walks you through the questions. The IRS does not send you a notice telling you that you may have access to.

Key Takeaways

  • The 2024 child tax credit is $2,000 per may have access to child under age 17, claimed when you file your tax return in 2025.
  • Your child must have a valid Social Security number, be a U.S. citizen, national, or resident alien, and live with you for more than half the year.
  • The credit begins to shrink if your income exceeds $400,000 (single) or $800,000 (married filing jointly).
  • 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.

Who qualifies as a dependent child for this credit

To claim the child tax credit, your child must meet four requirements. First, the child must be your son, daughter, stepchild, foster child, sibling, or a descendant of any of these (such as a grandchild or niece). Second, the child must be under age 17 at the end of 2024. Third, the child must be a U.S. citizen, national, or resident alien with a valid Social Security number. Fourth, the child must live with you for more than half of 2024.

The child cannot be a may have access to child of another person. If you and another parent share custody, only one of you can claim the credit for that child in a given year. If you cannot agree, the IRS generally allows the parent with whom the child lived for the longer period to claim the credit.

Adopted children and foster children count as your children for this purpose. A stepchild counts if they are legally your stepchild and meet the other requirements.

How the credit reduces what you owe in taxes

The child tax credit is a non-refundable credit up to the amount of tax you owe, meaning it can reduce your tax bill to zero but not below. However, a portion of it—up to $1,700 per child in 2024—is refundable. This means if the refundable portion is larger than the tax you owe, the IRS sends you the difference as a refund.

Example: You owe $1,200 in federal income tax and have one may have access to child. The $2,000 credit first wipes out your $1,200 tax bill. You then have $800 of the credit left over. Of that $800, up to $1,700 per child is refundable, so you receive the full $800 as a refund check.

The refundable portion is sometimes called the Additional Child Tax Credit or Refundable Child Tax Credit. It is calculated on Form 8812 and is limited to 15 percent of your earned income above $2,500, or $1,700 per child, whichever is less.

Income limits and how the credit shrinks

The child tax credit does not disappear entirely at higher incomes, but it does get smaller. The phase-out thresholds are $400,000 for single filers and $800,000 for married couples filing jointly. If your modified adjusted gross income is below these amounts, you receive the full $2,000 per child.

For each $1,000 of income above the threshold (or any part of $1,000), the credit decreases by $50. Example: If you are single with a modified adjusted gross income of $401,000, you are $1,000 over the $400,000 threshold. Your credit decreases by $50, from $2,000 to $1,950 per child.

Modified adjusted gross income for this purpose is usually the same as your adjusted gross income (AGI) shown on your tax return. The IRS instructions for Form 1040 and Schedule 8812 specify any exceptions for your situation.

Claiming the credit on your 2024 tax return

You claim the child tax credit by filing a federal income tax return. If you use tax software, the program asks you questions about each child and calculates the credit automatically. If you file by paper, you list each may have access to child on Schedule 8812 (Credit for Other Dependents) or directly on Form 1040, depending on your situation and the year's IRS instructions.

You will need each child's full name, date of birth, and Social Security number. Have these details ready before you start. If a child does not have a Social Security number, you cannot claim the credit for that child.

The important date to claim the credit is the same as the important date to file your tax return: April 15, 2025, for the 2024 tax year. If you file late, you can still claim the credit as long as you file within three years of the original important date.

What happens if you claimed the credit in advance during 2024

In 2024, the child tax credit is not paid in advance. However, in some prior years (such as 2021), the IRS sent advance payments directly to families. If you received advance payments in an earlier year, those payments reduced the amount of credit you could claim on that year's tax return.

When you file your 2024 return, you claim the full $2,000 credit (or the amount you may have access to for based on income). There is no reconciliation needed unless you received advance payments in 2024, which is not happening in 2024.

Other credits and deductions for children

The child tax credit is separate from other tax benefits for children. The Child and Dependent Care Credit helps pay for childcare expenses if you work or look for work. The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a refundable credit for lower-income working families and can be claimed for children. You may be able to claim more than one credit for the same child if each credit covers different expenses.

You cannot claim a child as a dependent on your return and also claim the child tax credit for that child—the credit is part of claiming them as a dependent. However, you can claim the child tax credit and the child and dependent care credit for the same child in the same year.

If you are unsure whether you may have access to for other credits, tax software or a tax professional can help you identify them. The IRS website also has worksheets and examples for common situations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I claim the child tax credit if the child does not live with me the whole year?

The child must live with you for more than half of 2024. If a child lived with you for seven months, that counts. If the child lived with you for five months, it does not. Temporary absences for school, vacation, or medical care count as time living with you.

What if my child turns 17 in 2024?

You can claim the credit only if the child is under age 17 at the end of 2024. If your child turns 17 on December 31, 2024, they are 17 at year-end and you cannot claim the credit. If they turn 17 on January 1, 2025, they are still 16 at the end of 2024 and you can claim it.

Do I lose the entire credit if my income is over the limit?

No. The credit shrinks by $50 for each $1,000 of income over the threshold, but it does not disappear. At very high incomes it may become zero, but most families over the threshold still receive some credit.

Can two parents claim the same child?

No. Only one person can claim the child tax credit for a given child in a given year. If parents share custody, the parent with whom the child lived for the longer period usually claims it. If the time was equal, you can agree which parent claims it, or the IRS will explore a tiebreaker rule.

What if I do not owe any taxes—can I still get the credit?

Yes, because up to $1,700 of the credit per child is refundable. Even if you owe zero tax, you may receive a refund check for the refundable portion. You must file a return to claim it.