How come my Child Tax Credit was only $50.00 in 2015 and for 2016 it's $3,000.00? I have three children.

[DanielV01 · Accepted solution]

It depends.  The normal amount of Child Tax Credit is $1000 per child under 17.  However, the Child Tax Credit in and of itself is nonrefundable:  it can only bring your tax down to zero.  Thus, if in 2015 you had lower income, your Child Tax Credit could have been $50; it is not uncommon to see it at $0.  However, what is not used for the Child Tax Credit may qualify for Additional Child Tax Credit.  This credit is refundable, which means that it continues to increase your refund.

It seems as if last year you had less income, and less need for the nonrefundable Child Tax Credit, but you can see if you received an amount of Additional Child Tax Credit.  Because of how the refundable credit is calculated, it is possible that you might not have received a full $3000 total, but the credit is based on that number.

This year you had more income, and thus needed the full nonrefundable portion.  Your Additional Child Tax Credit this year should be zero.