Free Tax Tool

Child Tax Credit Calculator

Estimate your 2026 child tax credit and credit for other dependents, how much reduces your tax, how much comes back as the refundable Additional Child Tax Credit, and how the income phase-out applies.

Under 17 at the end of the year, with a valid SSN

Dependents 17 and older, children with an ITIN, or qualifying relatives

$

For most people this is the AGI on Form 1040

$

Wages, tips, and net self-employment earnings. Leave blank to use MAGI.

$

Leave blank to estimate it from MAGI minus the standard deduction.

2026 child tax credit

Total benefit from the credits

$4,485.00

Child tax credit
$4,400.00
Credit for other dependents
$500.00
Credit before phase-out
$4,900.00
Income phase-out reduction
-$0.00
Used against your tax (nonrefundable)
$1,085.00
Refundable Additional Child Tax Credit
$3,400.00
Total benefit
$4,485.00

The nonrefundable part can only reduce your income tax to zero. Whatever is left can come back as a refund through the Additional Child Tax Credit, up to the limits shown at right.

Refundable part (ACTC)

Unused credit you lose

$415.00

Federal income tax before credits
$1,085.00
Max refundable per child
$1,700.00
Refund cap for your children
$3,400.00
15% of earned income over $2,500
$4,875.00
Refundable ACTC
$3,400.00

Estimate only. Assumes you (or at least one spouse if filing jointly) have a valid SSN, as required starting in 2025, and ignores other credits that use up tax first. Families with three or more children may get a larger refund using the Social Security tax method on Schedule 8812, which this calculator does not compute. The $500 credit for other dependents is never refundable.

How the child tax credit is calculated

  1. Add up the credits: $2,200 for each qualifying child under 17 and $500 for each other dependent.
  2. Apply the phase-out: subtract $50 for every $1,000 (or part of $1,000) of modified AGI over $200,000, or $400,000 if married filing jointly.
  3. Use the credit against your federal income tax. This nonrefundable part can take your tax down to zero but not below.
  4. Refund the rest as the Additional Child Tax Credit, up to the smaller of $1,700 per qualifying child or 15% of earned income above $2,500. Anything beyond that is lost.

Example: a head of household with two children under 17 and an 18-year-old dependent earns $35,000 in wages. Her credits total $4,900 ($4,400 for the children plus $500 for the older dependent), with no phase-out. After the $24,150 standard deduction, taxable income is $10,850 and her tax is $1,085, which the credits wipe out. Of the $3,815 left, the refundable part is capped at $3,400 (2 x $1,700), less than 15% of $32,500 ($4,875). Her total benefit is $4,485: $1,085 off her tax and a $3,400 refund. The remaining $415 is lost.

Lower income families often qualify for the earned income credit too, so run the EITC calculator alongside this one, or the federal income tax calculator to see your full return. To get the credit in your paychecks instead of at tax time, claim it in step 3 of your W-4 with the W-4 calculator. Married couples deciding how to file can see how the credit changes by status with the married filing jointly vs separately calculator.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the child tax credit for 2026?

The child tax credit is $2,200 for each qualifying child under 17 for tax year 2026. Up to $1,700 per child is refundable as the Additional Child Tax Credit if the credit is more than your tax. Dependents who do not qualify, such as children 17 and older, can get a separate $500 credit for other dependents.

Is the child tax credit refundable?

Partly. The credit first reduces your income tax. If some is left over, you can get up to $1,700 per qualifying child back as a refund through the Additional Child Tax Credit, limited to 15% of your earned income above $2,500. Families with three or more children may qualify for more using a method based on Social Security and Medicare taxes paid.

What are the income limits for the child tax credit?

The credit starts to phase out when modified AGI exceeds $200,000, or $400,000 for married couples filing jointly. It drops by $50 for every $1,000 (or part of $1,000) over the threshold. A single parent with one child loses the full $2,200 once MAGI passes $243,000; a joint filer with one child, once MAGI passes $443,000. These thresholds are not adjusted for inflation.

What is the age limit for the child tax credit?

The child must be under 17 at the end of the tax year, meaning 16 or younger on December 31. The child also has to be your son, daughter, stepchild, foster child, sibling, or a descendant of one of them, live with you more than half the year, not provide over half of their own support, and be claimed as your dependent. A 17-year-old may still qualify you for the $500 credit for other dependents.

What are the Social Security number requirements?

Each qualifying child must have a Social Security number valid for employment issued by the due date of your return, including extensions. Starting with 2025 returns, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act also requires you, or at least one spouse if filing jointly, to have a valid SSN. A child with an ITIN instead of an SSN does not qualify for the child tax credit but may qualify for the $500 credit for other dependents.

Did the child tax credit increase?

Yes. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act raised the credit from $2,000 to $2,200 per child starting with tax year 2025, made it permanent, and indexed it to inflation for later years in $100 steps. It stays at $2,200 for 2026. The refundable portion is $1,700 per child for 2025 and 2026.

What is the credit for other dependents?

The credit for other dependents is a $500 nonrefundable credit for each dependent who does not qualify for the child tax credit, such as children 17 and older, full-time students under 24, parents or other relatives you support, and dependents with an ITIN. It phases out together with the child tax credit and is not refundable, so it can only reduce your tax to zero.

Are monthly child tax credit payments coming back?

No. The monthly advance payments were a one-time feature of the expanded 2021 credit. For 2026 you claim the full credit on your tax return using Schedule 8812. If you want the benefit spread across your paychecks instead, you can claim it in Step 3 of Form W-4 so your employer withholds less tax.

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