Child tax credit calculator
How much of the credit you get, how much reduces your tax, and how much comes back as a refund even if you owe nothing.
The two halves of the credit
The child tax credit first reduces the income tax you owe. If the credit is bigger than your tax, part of the leftover, up to $1,700 per child, is paid to you as the additional child tax credit, as long as you earned over $2,500. That is why low-income families may not receive the full $2,200.
See how the credit changes your whole return in the tax refund calculator, or plan withholding with the W-4 calculator (Step 3 of the W-4 is where you claim children).
Questions people ask
How much is the child tax credit for 2026?
Up to $2,200 per qualifying child under 17, as set by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (it also applies to 2025) and indexed for inflation from 2026. Other dependents, such as a 17-year-old or a parent you support, qualify for a $500 credit.
Is the child tax credit refundable?
Partly. The refundable part, the additional child tax credit, is capped at $1,700 per child and equals 15% of earned income above $2,500. You get it even if you owe no income tax. The rest only reduces tax you owe.
At what income does the child tax credit phase out?
It falls by $50 for every $1,000 (or part of $1,000) of modified AGI above $200,000 for single and head-of-household filers, or $400,000 for married couples filing jointly.
Who is a qualifying child?
Under 17 at the end of the year, your son, daughter, stepchild, foster child, sibling or a descendant of one, living with you more than half the year, not providing over half of their own support, and with a Social Security number valid for work. From 2025, at least one parent claiming the credit must also have an SSN.