Child Tax Credit: Who Qualifies and How Much Can You Get?
The Child Tax Credit (CTC) continues to provide financial relief to families in 2025. Understanding the eligibility criteria and potential benefits can help you maximize your tax refund.
✅ Who Qualifies for the Child Tax Credit?
To claim the CTC for 2025, your child must meet these requirements:
Age: Under age 17 at the end of the tax year.
Relationship: Must be your child, stepchild, foster child, sibling, or a descendant (like a grandchild or niece/nephew).
Residency: Must live with you for more than half the year.
Support: Must not have provided more than half of their own financial support.
Citizenship: Must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or U.S. resident alien.
Social Security Number: Must have a valid SSN issued before the return is due.
💵 How Much Can You Get in 2025?
Maximum Credit: Up to $2,000 per qualifying child.
Refundable Portion: Up to $1,700 per child—even if you owe no taxes.
The refundable part is especially helpful for low- to moderate-income families, since it can result in a larger tax refund.
📉 Income Limits & Phase-Out
The credit starts to phase out if your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) exceeds:
$200,000 for single filers or heads of household
$400,000 for married couples filing jointly
For every $1,000 over the threshold, your credit is reduced by $50 per child.
📝 How to Claim the Credit
You’ll need to:
File a federal tax return (Form 1040 or 1040-SR)
Attach Schedule 8812, which calculates the credit and refundable portion
Even if you don’t owe any taxes, filing is still necessary to receive the credit.
💡 Final Tip: Many families qualify without realizing it. Double-check your eligibility, gather the right documents, and file on time to make sure you get every dollar you deserve!
