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If you got the Child Tax Credit last year, but not this year, it's probably because:

1.       Your child (or children, in the case of twins or triplets) celebrated their 17th birthday in 2018, or

2.       Your child has an ITIN instead of a Social Security number.

Starting in tax year 2018, children with ITINs don't qualify for the Child Tax Credit, but instead may qualify for the new $500 Credit for Other Dependents ("Family Tax Credit").

Other, less likely reasons you're no longer able to get the Child Tax Credit include:

·         Your child lived with you less than half the year in 2018

·         Your child paid more than half of their own expenses

·         Your 2018 AGI is too high to qualify for the credit ($440,000 if filing jointly, $240,000 all others)

See the qualifications for the Child Tax Credit and the new Credit for Other Dependents.

·         Why is my Child Tax Credit smaller this year?

·         What is the $500 Credit for Other Dependents (“Family Tax Credit”)?

What’s new with the child tax credit after tax reform

Many people claim the child tax credit to help offset the cost of raising children. Tax reform legislation enacted last year made changes to that credit. Here are some important things for taxpayers to know about the changes to the credit. 

• Credit amount. The new law increases the child tax credit from $1,000 to $2,000. Eligibility for the credit has not changed. As in past years, the credit applies if all of these apply:
• the child is younger than 17 at the end of the tax year, December 31, 2018
• the taxpayer claims the child as a dependent
• the child lives with the taxpayer for at least six months of the year
• Credit refunds. The credit is refundable, now up to $1,400. If a taxpayer doesn’t owe any tax before claiming the credit, they will receive up to $1,400 as part of their refund.
• Earned income threshold. The income threshold to claim the credit has been lowered to $2,500 per family. This means a family must earn a minimum of $2,500 to claim the credit.
• Phase out. The income threshold at which the child tax credit begins to phase out is increased to $200,000, or $400,000 if married filing jointly. This means that more families with children younger than 17 qualify for the larger credit.

Dependents who can’t be claimed for the child tax credit may still qualify the taxpayer for the credit for other dependents.  This is a non-refundable credit of up to $500 per qualifying person. These dependents may also be dependent children who are age 17 or older at the end of 2018. It also includes parents or other qualifying relatives supported by the taxpayer.

More information:

• Publication 972, Child Tax Credit
• Withholding Calculator Frequently Asked Questions
• Tax Withholding
• Tax Reform page on IRS.gov