If you have any children under the age of 17, including any born during 2023, you could be eligible for the child tax credit. If you’re eligible, it could reduce how much you owe in taxes, but it won’t provide you with a refund because it’s nonrefundable this year. Also, you must meet several requirements to be eligible for the child tax credit in 2024.
The child tax credit is still at its pre-pandemic amount; however, lawmakers are working on restoring the expanded child tax credit. We’ll explain what’s going on below.
We’ll help you find out if you’re eligible for the child tax credit in 2024 and how much money you could get. For more tax tips, learn which divorced parent gets to claim the child tax credit and all the tax breaks you can get from your home.
How much is the child tax credit in 2024?
The maximum tax credit available per child is $2,000 for each child under 17 on Dec. 31, 2023.
For tax year 2021, the expanded child tax credit was $3,600 for children 5 and under, and $3,000 for children ages 6 to 17. That’s no longer the case. The age requirement was also temporarily extended to under 18 on Dec. 31, but that’s gone, too.
Who is eligible for the child tax credit?
To be eligible for the tax break this year, you and your family must meet these requirements:
- You have a modified adjusted gross income, or MAGI, of $200,000 or less, or $400,000 or less if you’re filing jointly.
- The child you’re claiming the credit for was under the age of 17on Dec. 31, 2023.
- They have a valid Social Security number.
- They are your legally recognized child, stepchild, foster child, sibling, half-brother or half-sister, or a descendant of one of these categories (like a grandchild or niece or nephew).
- They have contributed no more than half of their own financial support in the relevant tax year.
- They have lived with you for over half the year.
- You are claiming them as a dependent on your tax return.
- You are a US citizen or resident alien.
Go to the IRS website for more information.
If your MAGI is higher than the income limits, the amount of child tax credit you receive will decrease by $50 for every $1,000 above the limit. For example, a MAGI of $210,000 as an individual would allow you to claim $1,500 for each eligible child.
The child tax credit is phased out completely at $240,000 for individuals and $480,000 for married couples filing jointly.
Note: If you search online for information on the child tax credit, you may come across details on the 2021 expanded tax breaks, so double-check that you’re viewing the most recent information.
Mark Steber, chief tax information officer at Jackson-Hewitt, says many government sites keep historical information live “for people playing catch-up with their taxes.”
Will Congress expand the child tax credit in 2024?
As part of a massive COVID-19 aid package, Congress in 2021 temporarily expanded the child tax credit, which helped drive child poverty to a record low. Congress didn’t extend the expanded credit in 2022, however, and the credit returned to its pre-pandemic rate.
This year, Congress is working to expand the credit again, pushing to have a deal in place by Jan. 29, the first day you can file your tax return this year. According to a Washington Post report, the plan, if approved, would allow the lowest-income families to claim the credit for each child.
How do I claim the child tax credit?
You can claim the child tax credit by entering your eligible children on your Form 1040 and attaching a completed Schedule 8812, Credits for Qualifying Children and Other Dependents.
What if the credit is more than what I owe in taxes?
The child tax credit this year is nonrefundable. That means that if your tax liability exceeds what you get from the credit, you forfeit the difference.
You may still be able to claim the additional child tax credit, which refunds up to $1,500 per child. (To see if you qualify for the additional child tax credit, fill out the worksheet for IRS Form 8812.)
If you paid for childcare, you may also qualify for the child and dependent care credit. Depending on your circumstances, you can declare 20% to 35% of your childcare expenses.
The maximum you can claim is $3,000 for one child under 13 or a dependent with disabilities, or $6,000 for two or more.
You are required to have earned some income to qualify for this credit, and the care must not have been provided by a spouse or family member.
Other federal income tax breaks available to families include adoption credits, education credits and the earned income tax credit.
Is there a state child tax credit?
More than a dozen states — California, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah and Vermont — have some form of tax credit that benefits families, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Many others are considering implementing the tax break.
Requirements and benefits vary, so check with your state tax portal for details.