Child Tax Credit showing $500 instead of $2000

[mingzhongtang]

Hi there,

I am preparing my 2025 tax return using TurboTax Premier (Costco version). My child meets all the IRS requirements for the full $2,000 Child Tax Credit plus the additional refundable amount, for a maximum of $2,200. This includes:

• Child was under age 17 on December 31, 2025

• Valid SSN issued before the return due date

• Resided with me all year

• Meets all qualifying child tests

• My income is within the applicable limits

However, TurboTax is only showing a $500 Child Tax Credit, which matches the “Credit for Other Dependents” amount — but this is incorrect based on qualifying child eligibility.

I have successfully claimed the full credit in prior 13 years and have not changed my filing situation.

Please help:

1. Review why TurboTax is classifying my child as eligible for only a $500 credit.

2. Confirm whether this is a software issue affecting the 2025 tax year.

3. Advise how to correct this in my current return.

Thank you in advance for your assistance.

Best regards,

Ming

[xmasbaby0 · Accepted solution]

Make sure you have entered your child as a dependent in My Info, and that you have entered the child's Social Security number.    Careful— do not say that your child’s SSN is not valid for employment.  If your child was born in 2025 make sure you said he lived with you the whole year.  There is an oddly worded question that asks if the child paid over half their own support.  Say NO to that question.

If your dependent was a full-time college student, make sure you were careful on the MY INFO screen for “Uncommon situations” and that you indicated there that they were a student.

Have you entered income from working in 2025?  If not,  you will not receive an income tax refund based on having dependent children.

  The maximum amount of the child tax credit is now $2200 per child; the refundable “additional child tax credit” amount is $1700.   In order to get that credit, you have to have income from working.  

Take the amount you earned from working.   Subtract $2500.   Multiply the rest by 15%.  That is the additional child tax credit per child that you canget—- up to the maximum of $1700 per child.   If the amount you earned from working was low, you will not get the full $1700 per child.

 If your child is older than 16 at the end of 2025, you do not get the CTC.  But you may still get the non-refundable $500 credit for other dependents instead.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/taxation/child-tax-credit/L2lNhfGDl_US_e...

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/taxation/additional-child-tax-credit/L6x...

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

And for the Earned Income Credit—-

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/tax-credits-deductions/qualifications-ea...

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

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p596.pdf

Look at your 2025 Form 1040 to see the child-related credits you received

PREVIEW 1040

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/tax-return/preview-turbotax-online-retur...

Child Tax Credit line 19

Credit for Other Dependents line 19

Earned Income Credit line 27

Additional Child Tax Credit line 28