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By Kristina Russo | American Express Credit Intel Freelance Contributor
5 Min Read | June 26, 2020 in Life
The child tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar reduction in your federal taxes owed, simply for raising children—whether or not they’re your kids.
It phases out based on income—but the threshold level is high. For married couples, it starts phasing out above $400,000.
As with similar state credits, part of the child tax credit is refundable—meaning that you may get money from the IRS even if you pay no taxes, in some situations.
As a mother of teenage twins, I know how expensive it is to raise children, so I take the federal child tax credit very seriously. The child tax credit is intended to help taxpayers offset the overall cost of raising children and is a way to significantly reduce your tax bill. It is a dollar-for-dollar reduction in the tax you owe, folks, not just a tax deduction (which lowers the income on which you’re taxed), and it has doubled over the last two years.
But before we dive into the nitty gritty of how the child tax credit works, it’s important to note that this is NOT the same as the child and dependent CARE tax credit, which focuses on payments for childcare while you’re at work.
The child tax credit is for any taxpayer who provides more than half the financial support for a child, sibling, grandchild, niece, nephew, or lawfully fostered or adopted child. You must include the child’s Social Security number when you file your return. Seven requirements must be met to be a qualifying child, according to the IRS:2
If a child lived in more than one household during the tax year, it is usually the parent with primary custody who takes the tax credit. In cases of joint custody, formal arrangements should be made for when each parent can claim the credit, such as alternating years.3
The unfortunately named additional child tax credit is not about an additional child. Instead, it refers to the part of the child tax credit that is refundable and requires you to fill out an extra form. In tax language, a “refundable” tax credit can get you money from the IRS whether or not you paid any tax in the first place. Essentially, that part of the credit becomes a government grant. Up to $1,400 of each child tax credit can be refundable.4 If you have three or more children, there is a specific formula that may be used to determine the amount of your additional child tax credit.5 To learn about other kinds of refundable tax credits, read, “What Are Refundable Tax Credits?”
The TJCA significantly raised the income phase-out thresholds for the child tax credit, through the end of 2025. The child tax credit starts phasing out at $200,000 of modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) for single, head of household, and qualifying widow(er) filers, or $400,000 for married couples filing jointly.6 MAGI is your adjusted gross income but with certain exclusions added back in.7 For a better understanding, read “What is Adjusted Gross Income” and “What is Modified Adjusted Gross Income.”
The $2,000 credit phases out gradually, falling by $50 for every $1,000 of MAGI over the threshold.8 If you’re subject to the $200,000 threshold, the entire credit is phased out by $240,001 income. For married taxpayers filing jointly, the credit is wiped out at $440,001.
Just about all the major tax preparers and filing services provide online tools to help you determine whether your dependents qualify for the child tax credit by answering a few questions. As part of your filing, they will also select the proper forms and determine how much your credit might be. If you’re a do-it-yourselfer, like my husband and me, you can find IRS Schedule 8812 and its instructions on the IRS website.9
Everything I’ve discussed so far relates to your federal tax liability. Six states offer a state-level version of the federal child tax credit, each with their own program name, formula and eligibility requirements. They are:10
The TCJA has a separate “family” tax credit for other dependents like older children, qualifying relatives, and dependents who have an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) (rather than a Social Security number). You can’t double dip: this $500 non-refundable credit can only be used for qualifying dependents who are not eligible for the child tax credit.11
Children who qualify for the family credit must be over 17 years old, and can be up to 24 for full time students, and meet many of the same requirements as the child tax credit. Qualifying relatives do not need to be related to you but must live with you full time and have less than $4,200 in income, among other requirements.12 Lastly, dependents with an ITIN, like a foreign national or nonresident alien, can qualify for the family credit.13
The child tax credit is a common way to reduce your overall tax bill and can even provide you with cash back in certain circumstances. The TJCA significantly enhanced the value of this credit by increasing its amount and raising the income levels that trigger phasing out. Check with your own tax preparer for what the child tax credit means for you.
1 “Get Ready for Taxes: Important things to know about tax credits,” IRS
2 “The child tax credit benefits eligible parents,” IRS
3 “Child tax credit,” Investopedia
4 “Child tax credit and Credit for Other Dependents at a Glance,” IRS
5 "Additional Child Tax Credit," IRS
6 “Get Ready for Taxes: Important things to know about tax credits,” IRS
7 “The IRS Child Tax Credit,” eFile
8 “What the Expanded Child Tax Credit Looks Like After Tax Reform,” Forbes
9 “About Schedule 8812 (Form 1040), Child Tax Credit,” IRS
10 “All About Child Tax Credits,” Smartasset
11 “What the Expanded Child Tax Credit Looks Like After Tax Reform,” Forbes
12 “What is the $500 Credit for Other Dependents (“Family Tax Credit”),” Intuit
13 Ibid.
The material made available for you on this website, Credit Intel, is for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide legal, tax or financial advice. If you have questions, please consult your own professional legal, tax and financial advisors.