Child Tax Credit 2024: How Much Is It and Who Qualifies? – CNET [CNET]

The child tax credit provides a nice boost for families during tax season.

The child tax credit provides a nice boost for families during tax season.

If you have a child — even one that was born in 2023 — you may be eligible for the child tax credit. If you qualify, the credit could reduce how much you owe on your taxes. As of right now, only a portion is refundable this year. We’ll explain the requirements that must be met to be eligible for the child tax credit in 2024. 

The child tax credit is still at its pre-pandemic amount, but 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. Only a portion is refundable this year, up to $1,600 per child.

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 also gone.  

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, 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, when the IRS begins accepting tax returns 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.

If approved, the refundable child tax credit amount would increase by $200 for the 2023 tax year, according to Kiplinger. For the 2024 and 2025 tax years, it would increase by $100.

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?

Is there a state child tax credit?