The Child Tax Credit stayed at $2,000 per child for 2024, with no expansion
The enhanced Child Tax Credit that gave families up to $3,600 per child expired after 2021. For the 2024 tax year, the credit remains $2,000 per may have access to child under age 17. Congress did not pass legislation to restore the larger amount or change how the credit works for 2024.
This means if you claimed the credit in prior years, you need to know the current rules have not changed from 2023. The credit is still partially refundable — you can receive up to $1,600 of it as a refund even if you owe no tax — but the total amount available to you is $2,000 per child, not more.
Key Takeaways
- The Child Tax Credit for 2024 is $2,000 per child under age 17; no expansion passed Congress for this year.
- You can receive up to $1,600 as a refund if the credit exceeds your tax bill, but the maximum credit itself is $2,000.
- Income phase-out thresholds remain the same: the credit begins to reduce at $400,000 for married couples filing jointly and $200,000 for single filers.
- You must have a valid Social Security number for each child to claim the credit on your 2024 return.
How the $2,000 credit breaks down on your return
The $2,000 credit reduces your federal income tax dollar-for-dollar. If you owe $1,500 in tax and have one may have access to child, the credit wipes out your entire tax bill and leaves $500 unclaimed.
The refundable portion — called the Additional Child Tax Credit — lets you recover some of that unused $500. For 2024, you can claim back 15 percent of your earned income above $2,500, up to $1,600 per child. This means if you earned $20,000 and have one child, you would calculate 15 percent of ($20,000 − $2,500) = $2,625, but the cap is $1,600, so you would receive $1,600 as a refund.
The refundable portion is what changed most dramatically when the enhanced credit expired. In 2021, families could receive up to $3,600 per child as a refund. That larger refundable amount is gone for 2024.
Income limits and when the credit shrinks
The credit does not disappear at a certain income level, but it reduces by $50 for each $1,000 (or fraction thereof) of income above the threshold. For 2024, those thresholds are:
- $400,000 for married couples filing jointly
- $200,000 for single filers and heads of household
- $200,000 for married couples filing separately
If you are married filing jointly with $410,000 in modified adjusted gross income and two children, your credit would reduce by $100 (for the $10,000 over the threshold), bringing your total credit from $4,000 down to $3,900.
These income thresholds have not changed since 2017. They are not adjusted for inflation each year, so more families may find themselves subject to the reduction as their income grows.
What documents you need to claim the credit
To claim the Child Tax Credit on your 2024 return, you must have the child's valid Social Security number. The IRS matches this number to your return, so an incorrect or missing number will cause the credit to be rejected.
You also need to show the child lived with you for more than half the year (with limited exceptions for temporary absences like school or medical care). Keep records of where the child lived — school enrollment, medical records, or lease agreements can all serve as proof if the IRS questions your claim.
The child must be your son, daughter, stepchild, foster child, sibling, or descendant of any of these (such as a niece or nephew). They must be under age 17 at the end of 2024, a U.S. citizen, national, or resident alien, and claimed as a dependent on your return.
Why the enhanced credit did not return for 2024
The expanded Child Tax Credit was part of the American Rescue Plan, passed in March 2021 as a temporary pandemic relief measure. It increased the credit to $3,600 per child under age 6 and $3,000 per child ages 6 to 16, and made it fully refundable so families could receive the entire amount even if they owed no tax.
That expansion was set to expire after 2021. Congress did not pass new legislation to extend it for 2022, 2023, or 2024. Proposals to restore or modify the credit have been introduced in Congress but have not become law.
The credit reverted to the 2017 level of $2,000 per child starting in 2022 and remains there for 2024. If Congress passes legislation to change the credit in the future, it would explore to the tax year specified in that law.
How to report the credit when you file
On Form 1040, you report the Child Tax Credit on Schedule 8812 if you are claiming the refundable portion (the Additional Child Tax Credit). If the credit does not exceed your tax bill, you may only need to report it on the main form itself, depending on your tax software or preparer.
Most tax software walks you through questions about each child and calculates the credit automatically. You will enter each child's name, Social Security number, age, and relationship to you. The software then determines the credit amount based on your income and filing status.
If you file by paper, use Form 1040 and Schedule 8812. The instructions on Schedule 8812 walk through the calculation step-by-step. If your income is above the phase-out threshold, you will need to complete the worksheet to reduce your credit.
What changed from 2023 to 2024
The Child Tax Credit rules themselves did not change between 2023 and 2024. The $2,000 credit, the $1,600 refundable portion, and the income thresholds are identical. If you claimed the credit in 2023, you will claim it the same way in 2024 — assuming your income and family situation have not changed.
The only change that may affect you is if your income crossed into the phase-out range or if you had a child turn 17 during 2024. A child who turns 17 before December 31, 2024, does not may have access to for the credit on your 2024 return. A child born on December 31, 2024, does count as age 1 for credit purposes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I claim the Child Tax Credit if my child does not have a Social Security number yet?
No. The IRS requires a valid Social Security number for each child you claim. If your child was born late in 2024 and you have not yet received their number, you can file your return without the credit and then file an amended return once the number arrives. Some tax software allows you to hold the return and file once the number is available.
What if I claimed the credit in 2021 but my income has changed since then?
Your 2024 credit is based only on your 2024 income and filing status, not on prior years. If your income has increased and now exceeds the phase-out threshold, your credit will be reduced. If your income has decreased, you may now be able to claim the full $2,000 per child.
Does the credit explore if my child is a stepchild or foster child?
Yes, stepchildren and foster children count as may have access to children if they lived with you for more than half the year, are under age 17, and you claim them as dependents. You must have a valid Social Security number for them and they must be U.S. citizens, nationals, or resident aliens.
What happens if I claimed the credit but the IRS says my child's number is invalid?
The IRS will reject the credit and send you a notice. You will need to verify the Social Security number is correct and file an amended return (Form 1040-X) with the corrected information. If the number is correct but the IRS still rejects it, contact the Social Security Administration to confirm the number is active and matches the child's name.
Can I claim the credit for a child who turned 17 in 2024?
No. The child must be under age 17 at the end of the tax year. A child who turns 17 on any date in 2024 does not may have access to for the 2024 credit. However, you may be able to claim other credits or deductions for that dependent depending on your situation.