✍️ FinZelo Editorial Team 📅 September 2026 ⏱️ 6 min read
📌 Key Takeaway: The Child Tax Credit provides a credit per qualifying child under 17, phasing out at higher income levels, with a refundable portion (the Additional Child Tax Credit) available to filers whose tax liability is too low to use the full non-refundable credit.

Who Qualifies

  • The child must be under 17 at the end of the tax year.
  • The child must be a dependent who lived with you for more than half the year.
  • The child must have a valid Social Security number.

Income Phase-Out

The credit begins phasing out above certain income thresholds — higher earners see the credit reduced gradually rather than eliminated all at once, so it's worth calculating even if you're near the threshold.

The Refundable Portion

If your tax liability is lower than your full Child Tax Credit amount, the Additional Child Tax Credit lets you receive some of the remaining credit as a refund rather than losing it entirely.

Credit for Other Dependents

A smaller, non-refundable credit is available for dependents who don't qualify for the full Child Tax Credit — such as children 17 or older, or other qualifying relatives you support.

This page is for educational purposes and isn't personalized financial or tax advice. Figures, rates, and program details change frequently — confirm current terms directly with lenders, tax professionals, or the IRS before acting.