topic Child tax credit in Deductions & credits

Child tax credit

mel97 — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 04:39:24 GMT

Im in the process of doing my taxes for 2023. My total income for the year was around 12,000. I claim 3 dependents because I have 3 kids. Why is it saying I'm only getting $509 for the child tax credit for all 3 and not the full amount per child? My kids are all under 5 y/o.

Re: Child tax credit

xmasbaby0 — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 05:21:58 GMT

Was that total income of $12,000 all earned from working? Or did some of it come from a different source? The refundable child tax credit is based on how much you earned by working. Provide some details so we can help

Re: Child tax credit

mel97 — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 06:35:02 GMT

nooo, some was from family/medical leave from when I was out of work.

Re: Child tax credit

mel97 — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 06:37:20 GMT

I just rechecked and it says my child tax credit is $0 while my additional child tax credit is $509.. sorry I’m confused with this. In the past years I have gotten the full tax credit.

Re: Child tax credit

xmasbaby0 — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 14:21:50 GMT

Okay-----only the income you received for working is used for calculating the CTC---not the paid leave.

The maximum amount of the child tax credit is now $2000 per child; the refundable “additional child tax credit” amount is $1600. In order to get that credit, you have to have income from working. The credit is calculated based on the amount you earned above $2500 multiplied by 15%, up to the full $1600 per child. If the amount you earned was too low, you will not get the full $1600.

If your child is older than 16 at the end of 2023, you do not get the CTC. But you may still get the non-refundable $500 credit for other dependents instead.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1900923-what-is-the-child-tax-credit

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/taxation/additional-child-tax-credit/L6xFeMFEf_US_en_US?uid=lqnuygah

https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/does-my-childdependent-qualify-for-the-child-tax-credit-or-the-credit-for-other-dependents

And for the Earned Income Credit—-the rules are back to the “old” rules—

Those under 25 and over 65 without children are not eligible as they were uniquely in 2021. And you cannot use your income from any earlier tax year to get the EIC for a 2022 return. There is no “lookback” for 2023. EIC for 2023 will be based on the income you earned by working in 2023.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1899157-what-are-the-qualifications-for-the-earned-income-credit-eic-or-eitc

https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit/use-the-eitc-assistant

Look at your 2023 Form 1040 to see the child-related credits you received

PREVIEW 1040

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901539-how-do-i-preview-my-turbotax-online-return-before-filing

Child Tax Credit line 19

Credit for Other Dependents line 19

Earned Income Credit line 27

Additional Child Tax Credit line 28