Definition
A federal credit of up to $2,200 per qualifying child under 17 for 2026, with up to $1,700 of it refundable.
What it means
The child tax credit helps families with children. For 2026, it is worth up to $2,200 for each qualifying child under age 17 at the end of the year. Up to $1,700 per child can be refunded as the additional child tax credit, based on 15% of earned income above $2,500. The credit is reduced by $50 for each $1,000 of modified AGI above $200,000, or $400,000 for married couples filing jointly. The child must have a Social Security number valid for employment, and under the 2025 law the person claiming it, or at least one spouse on a joint return, needs one as well. A dependent who does not qualify, such as a child with only an ITIN or an older relative, may qualify for the $500 credit for other dependents, which is not refundable.
Example
Parents filing jointly with two children ages 4 and 9 and income of $90,000 can claim $4,400 in 2026. If they owe only $2,000 of tax, the remaining $2,400 may be refundable, up to $1,700 per child ($3,400 here) if their earned income is high enough.
Illustrative numbers only. Your situation will differ.