Tax guide

Child Tax Credit

What is the Child Tax Credit? 

The child tax credit is a $2,000 benefit for those with qualifying children. $1,700 of the credit is potentially refundable in 2024 and 2025. You can claim the Child Tax Credit for each qualifying child who has a Social Security Number that is valid for employment in the United States. 

The Child Tax Credit helps families with qualifying children get a tax break. You may be able to claim the credit even if you don't normally file a tax return. 

To be a qualifying child for the 2024 tax year, your dependent generally must: 

  • Be under 17 at the end of the tax year. 
  • Be your son, daughter, stepchild, eligible foster child, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, half-brother, half-sister, or a descendant of one of these (for example, a grandchild, niece or nephew). 
  • Not provide more than half of his or her own support for the tax year. 
  • Have lived with you for more than half the tax year. 
  • Be claimed as a dependent on your return. 
  • Not file a joint return for the year (or filed the joint return only to claim a refund of taxes withheld or estimated taxes). 
  • Be a U.S. citizen, U.S. National or a U.S. resident alien. 
  • Must have a Social Security Number that is valid for employment and is issued before the due date of your tax return (including extensions). 

If you are caring for other dependents that are not children, such as an elderly parent, you may be able to claim the Credit for Other Dependents. 

Check out our page on Child Tax Credits to learn more. 

 

Sign Up

Still have questions?

You got it. We’re always here to help.

Here's what we found in our blog for file online with 1040.com:

Keeping Your Identity Safe Online

Here are some tips for keeping your personal information, well, personal, and out of reach of hackers.

Read

I Missed the Tax Filing Deadline - Now What?

If you owe taxes, missing the deadline means you need to know about the failure-to-file penalty and the failure-to-pay penalty - without the panic, of course.

Read

Top Tax Questions: May 2017 Update

Sometimes you just need a straight answer. Here are your most asked questions for the month of May!

Read

Minimize the Time it Takes to File Your Taxes

Time spent filing your taxes is precious (hello, April!), so here are some tips to help you sail through the process with 1040.com.

Read

What Users Say About 1040.com

User reviews for 1040.com straight ahead! See what taxpayers like you have to say about our smart, simple service.

Read

Is It Too Late to File My Taxes?

Short answer? Nope. But you definitely want to file ASAP - here's why.

Read

4 Reasons to File Your Taxes in January (Missing Stimulus Money...

The IRS typically starts processing tax returns in mid-to-late January, so what's the big deal with filing early?

Read

Form 1099-K Explained: The Micro-Payment Middle-Man

This one goes out to the freelancers and side-hustlers getting paid for small jobs online! What's a Form 1099-K all about?

Read

5 Unusual Types of Income to Include on Your Taxes

Not sure how to file certain types of income on your taxes? Wondering if you even need to mention it? Read on!

Read

Year-end Pointers for the Sharing Economy

The end of the year is just around the corner. Time to gather what you need to file your sharing economy taxes. Here's how.

Read

It’s not too good to be true. See what others are saying about filing taxes online with 1040.com