topic Can I get better understanding of the Child Tax Credit and why I didn’t receive it? in Deductions & credits

Can I get better understanding of the Child Tax Credit and why I didn’t receive it?

whitlockhart10 — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 11:30:08 GMT

Re: Can I get better understanding of the Child Tax Credit and why I didn’t receive it?

DawnC — Sat, 17 Feb 2024 00:54:55 GMT

Check that you answered all the dependent questions correctly. You must report earned income of at least $2500 to qualify.

The Child Tax Credit is a tax credit you can claim for each qualifying dependent child on your return. You can get up to $2,000 for each child under age 17 if your modified adjusted gross income (AGI) is less than:

$400,000 if you're Married Filing Jointly or a Qualifying Surviving Spouse, or
$200,000 for all other filing statuses

If your AGI is higher than that, the amount of Child Tax Credit you're eligible for is reduced by $50 for each $1,000 your modified AGI is above the income threshold. For example, if you're Married Filing Jointly making $401,000, you’re eligible for a total credit of $1,950.

To qualify, your child must meet all of these requirements:

Be under age 17 at the end of the tax year
Is your child, stepchild, foster child, adopted child, sibling, step sibling, half sibling, or a descendant of them (for example, a grandchild, niece, or nephew)
Has their own Social Security number
- Children with ITINs don't qualify, but may instead be eligible for the $500 Credit for Other Dependents
Lived with you for more than half the year
Didn't support themselves (didn't pay more than half their own expenses)
Is a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or U.S. resident alien
- Residents of Canada or Mexico don't qualify

In 2023, the tax credit will be refundable only up to $1,600, depending on your income. You must have earned income of at least $2,500 to be eligible for the refund.

For the latest news about the Child Tax Credit, check out the TurboTax blog.

Re: Can I get better understanding of the Child Tax Credit and why I didn’t receive it?

xmasbaby0 — Sat, 17 Feb 2024 00:55:54 GMT

First----did you enter information for a child under the age of 17, and does that child have a Social Security number? Did you enter income from a W-2 or self-employment income? You do not get the refundable additional child tax credit if you did not work and earn income.

The total per child is $2000. First the $2000 is used to reduce your tax owed down to zero. When (if) your tax owed is zero, the "rest" of the $2000 can be added to your refund as the Additional Child Tax Credit----up to a maximum of $1600 per child. But....that Additional Child Tax Credit also depends on how much you earned by working.

Take the amount you earned, subtract $2500, and multiply what is left by 15%. That is your additional child tax credit ---- up to a maximum of $1600 per child.

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

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