Calculate Your 2026 Child Tax Credit
Estimate your Child Tax Credit for 2026 based on income, filing status, and number of qualifying children.
2026 Child Tax Credit
The Child Tax Credit for 2026 is $2,000 per qualifying child under age 17. Up to $1,700 per child is refundable (the Additional Child Tax Credit) — meaning you receive it even if your tax liability is zero. The credit begins phasing out at $200,000 AGI for single filers and $400,000 for married filing jointly, reducing by $50 for each $1,000 of income above the threshold.
Who Qualifies
A qualifying child must be: under 17 at year-end, your son/daughter/stepchild/foster child/sibling/niece/nephew, lived with you more than half the year, did not provide more than half their own support, and be a US citizen/national/resident. Other dependents (children 17+, parents, etc.) qualify for a $500 non-refundable credit.
The Child Tax Credit reduces the average qualifying family tax bill by $4,000-6,000. Many families do not realize the credit exists or fail to claim it — the IRS estimates $3-5 billion in CTC goes unclaimed annually, primarily by lower-income families who would benefit most from the refundable portion.