It looks like we qualify for the child tax credit but we are not receiving 2,200. Why is that?

[athomas235]

We are getting $ 2,414 total.

[MelindaS1]

The Child Tax Credit (CTC) is a partially refundable credit, meaning that only a portion of it may come back to you as a refund, and the rest is used to lower your taxable income for the year (and so, lower your overall tax due). 

For 2025, the amount that is refundable is $1,7000 per the IRS. Learn more about refundable and partially refundable tax credits at this IRS knowledge link.

This TurboTax article also explains how the CTC is reduced at higher income levels:

7) Family income test - The Child Tax Credit is reduced if your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) is above certain amounts, which are determined by your tax-filing status. The phaseout of the credit begins with $200,000 of MAGI ($400,000 for Married Filing Jointly).

Learn more at Child Tax Credit: Top 8 Requirements for 2025-2026.

[xmasbaby0]

The refundable portion of the child tax credit is the "additional child tax credit" which goes up to a maximum of $1700.  You do not "get" $2200 in your refund.

  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 can get—- 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