The Child Tax Credit remained at $2,000 per child in 2024, with no expansion passed by Congress
The Child Tax Credit for tax year 2024 stayed the same as 2023: $2,000 per may have access to child under age 17. Congress did not pass legislation to increase it or restore the expanded $3,600 amount that existed temporarily in 2021. The credit is still available to you if you have dependent children and meet the income limits, but you will claim it on your 2024 tax return using the same rules that applied in 2023.
Several proposals to expand the credit circulated in Congress during 2024, but none became law. Some proposals would have raised the credit to $3,000 or $3,600 per child, or made more of the credit refundable (meaning you could receive money back even if you owe no tax). None of these changes took effect for the 2024 tax year.
Key Takeaways
- The Child Tax Credit for 2024 remains $2,000 per may have access to child under age 17, unchanged from 2023.
- You claim the credit on your 2024 tax return when you file in 2025, using Form 1040 and Schedule 8812.
- The credit phases out if your modified adjusted gross income exceeds $400,000 (married filing jointly) or $200,000 (single or head of household).
- Only $1,600 of the $2,000 credit is refundable, meaning you cannot receive more than that amount back if you owe no tax.
- Congress did not pass any expansion of the credit for 2024, though multiple proposals were introduced.
How the $2,000 credit works on your 2024 return
When you file your 2024 tax return in 2025, you will report each may have access to child on your Form 1040. A may have access to child must be under age 17 at the end of 2024, claimed as your dependent, a U.S. citizen or resident alien, and have a valid Social Security number. You will need their name, date of birth, and SSN to claim them.
The credit reduces your tax dollar-for-dollar. If you owe $3,500 in federal income tax and have two may have access to children, the $4,000 credit ($2,000 × 2) would wipe out your tax bill and leave you with a $500 refund — but only because $1,600 of each $2,000 credit is refundable. The remaining $400 per child ($2,000 − $1,600) can only reduce your tax to zero; it cannot create a refund beyond the refundable portion.
You report the credit on Schedule 8812 (Credits for may have access to Children and Other Dependents) and attach it to your Form 1040. If you use tax software like TurboTax, H&R Block, or TaxAct, the program will walk you through the questions and calculate the credit automatically.
Income limits and phase-out rules for 2024
The credit begins to phase out (reduce) once your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) exceeds certain thresholds. For 2024, those thresholds are $400,000 if you are married filing jointly, $200,000 if you are single or head of household, and $200,000 if you are married filing separately. Your MAGI is usually the same as your adjusted gross income (AGI) shown on your tax return.
For every $1,000 (or fraction of $1,000) your MAGI exceeds the threshold, the credit reduces by $50 per child. If you are single with MAGI of $201,500 and two may have access to children, your MAGI exceeds the $200,000 limit by $1,500. That rounds up to two $1,000 increments, so your credit reduces by $100 ($50 × 2). Your total credit would be $3,900 instead of $4,000.
These income thresholds and phase-out amounts are the same for 2024 as they were for 2023. They do not adjust for inflation each year.
What changed from the temporary 2021 expansion
In 2021, Congress temporarily expanded the Child Tax Credit to $3,600 per child (or $3,200 for children ages 17 and older). That expansion was part of the American Rescue Plan and was meant to last only through 2021. The credit reverted to $2,000 per child starting in 2022 and has remained there since.
The 2021 expansion also made more of the credit refundable — up to $3,600 per child could be refunded to you even if you owed no tax. That change also ended. Now only $1,600 per child is refundable, which means the maximum refund you can receive from the credit is $1,600 times the number of may have access to children.
Several members of Congress introduced bills in 2024 to restore or expand the credit again, but none passed. Some proposals would have raised it back to $3,600, others to $3,000, and some would have made the full amount refundable. Without new legislation, the $2,000 credit with $1,600 refundable remains in effect for 2024 and beyond.
How to claim the credit when you file in 2025
Gather your children's names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers before you start your return. You will also need your own SSN and your spouse's SSN if you are married filing jointly. Have your 2024 W-2 forms, 1099 forms, or other income documents ready so you can calculate your AGI accurately.
If you file electronically using tax software, enter each child's information when the program asks for dependents. The software will automatically calculate the credit based on your income and the number of may have access to children. If you file by paper using Form 1040 and Schedule 8812, list each child on the schedule and follow the instructions to calculate the credit amount.
If your income is below the phase-out threshold and you have no other tax credits or special circumstances, the calculation is straightforward: $2,000 per may have access to child. If your income is above the threshold or you have other credits, the calculation becomes more complex, and tax software or a tax professional can help may support accuracy.
What to do if Congress passes a new credit law before you file
Congress could pass new legislation affecting the Child Tax Credit between now and when you file your 2024 return (the important date is April 15, 2025, or October 15, 2025, if you file for an extension). If that happens, the IRS will update its guidance and tax software will be updated to reflect the new rules.
The IRS publishes updates on its website at irs.gov. You can also check the website of your tax software provider for updates. If you have already filed your return and new legislation passes that would increase your credit, you can file an amended return (Form 1040-X) to claim the additional credit and receive a larger refund.
As of now, no change to the credit has been signed into law for 2024. The $2,000 credit is what you should plan to claim when you file your 2024 return in 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I claim the Child Tax Credit if my child turned 17 in 2024?
No. The child must be under age 17 at the end of 2024 to may have access to. If your child turned 17 on any date in 2024, they do not meet the age requirement for the 2024 tax year. You may be able to claim them as a dependent for other purposes, but not for the Child Tax Credit.
What if I did not receive the full $2,000 credit because my income was too high?
Your credit phases out as your income rises above the threshold for your filing status. The phase-out is $50 per child for every $1,000 (or fraction thereof) over the limit. You can use the IRS worksheet in the Form 1040 instructions or your tax software to calculate the exact amount you can claim.
Is the Child Tax Credit the same as the Earned Income Tax Credit?
No. The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a separate credit for people with low to moderate income who work. The Child Tax Credit is based on having may have access to children and is available at higher income levels. You may be able to claim both credits on the same return if you meet the requirements for each.
What happens if I claim a child who is not actually my dependent?
The IRS will deny the credit and may assess penalties and interest if you claim a child you are not may have access to to claim. You must have a valid Social Security number for each child and be able to prove they are your may have access to dependent. The IRS matches SSNs to tax returns, so errors are usually caught during processing.
Can I claim the credit for a stepchild or foster child?
Yes, if the child meets the definition of a may have access to child under tax law. A stepchild or foster child can may have access to if they live with you for the entire year, are under age 17, have a valid SSN, and you can claim them as a dependent. The relationship to you is less important than meeting these requirements.