Families who are struggling to make ends meet can get help from the Child Tax Credit. About 48 million people get this money to help pay for their children under 17 years old.
It is a non-refundable credit that can lower your tax bill by the same amount. However, there are some situations where taxpayers may also be able to get a partial credit refund.
If you file your taxes between the beginning of 2025 and April 15, 2024, you can claim the Child Tax Credit for that year. The part of the Child Tax Credit that can be refunded is $1,700.
The IRS says on its website that the CTC for fiscal year 2025, which can be claimed on tax returns in 2026, will stay at $1,700. However, there is a plan to bring it up during the tax debate for 2025.
Payment could come 21 days after you file your tax return with the IRS, as long as you did it before the April 15 deadline. You can check the status of your tax return online.
Requirements for the Child Tax Credit in 2025
People must meet the following requirements in order to be eligible for the Child Tax Credit on their yearly tax returns:
- Age: Your child must have been under 17 at the end of the tax year.
- Relationship: The child you claim must be your son, daughter, stepchild, foster child, brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, stepbrother, stepsister or a descendant of any of those people (for example, a grandchild, niece or nephew).
- You must be able to properly claim the child as a dependent. The child cannot file a joint tax return, unless it is filed to claim a refund of withheld income taxes or estimated taxes paid.
- Residency: The child you claim must have lived with you for at least half of the year (there are some exceptions to this rule).
- Financial support: You must have provided at least half of the child’s support during the past year. In other words, if your qualifying child was financially supported for more than six months, they are probably considered non-qualifying.
- Citizenship: According to the IRS, your child must be a “U.S. citizen, U.S. national or U.S. resident alien,” and must have a valid Social Security number.
- Income: Parents or caregivers claiming the credit also typically cannot exceed certain income requirements. Depending on how much their income exceeds that threshold, the credit is gradually reduced until it is eliminated.
