How Much Is the Child Tax Credit for 2025?

For tax year 2025 the Child Tax Credit is worth up to $2,200 per qualifying child under age 17, an amount raised and made permanent by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Up to $1,700 of it is refundable through the Additional Child Tax Credit, so you can get part of it back even if you owe no tax. The credit starts to phase out at $200,000 of income, or $400,000 for married couples filing jointly, and each child must have a valid Social Security number.

How much the Child Tax Credit is worth

The Child Tax Credit reduces your tax bill dollar for dollar for each qualifying child. For 2025 the maximum is $2,200 per child, up from $2,000, and the amount is now indexed to inflation going forward. A credit is more valuable than a deduction of the same size, because a deduction only lowers the income you are taxed on, while a credit comes straight off the tax you owe. Two qualifying children can cut your tax by up to $4,400.

Who counts as a qualifying child

To claim the credit, the child generally must be your son, daughter, stepchild, foster child, sibling, or a descendant of any of them, be under 17 at the end of the year, live with you for more than half the year, and not provide more than half of their own support. The child also needs a Social Security number valid for employment, issued before your return is due. A dependent who is 17 or older, or a qualifying relative, does not get the $2,200 credit but may qualify for the $500 Credit for Other Dependents.

The income limit and how the phase-out works

You get the full credit up to $200,000 of modified adjusted gross income, or $400,000 if you are married filing jointly. Above those points the credit shrinks by $50 for every $1,000 of income over the threshold. Because the phase-out is gradual, many higher-income families still receive a partial credit rather than losing it all at once.

The credit is calculated from your income after deductions, so understanding adjusted gross income helps you see where you fall. If you want to estimate your refund with the credit included, our tax refund calculator factors it in.

Is the Child Tax Credit refundable?

Partly. If the credit is larger than the tax you owe, up to $1,700 per child can come back to you as a refund through the Additional Child Tax Credit, provided you have at least $2,500 of earned income. The remaining portion is nonrefundable, meaning it can reduce your tax to zero but not below. This refundable design is what makes the credit valuable to working families with modest tax bills.

One timing note: if you claim the Child Tax Credit or the Earned Income Tax Credit, the PATH Act bars the IRS from issuing your refund before mid-February, even if you file early. Our guide to how long a refund takes explains the schedule, and the Earned Income Tax Credit often stacks with the Child Tax Credit for the same families.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the child tax credit for 2025?

The Child Tax Credit is worth up to $2,200 per qualifying child under age 17 for tax year 2025, up from $2,000. Up to $1,700 of that is refundable through the Additional Child Tax Credit. The amount is now permanent and indexed to inflation, so it will rise gradually in future years.

What is the income limit for the child tax credit?

The full credit is available up to $200,000 of income for most filers, or $400,000 for married couples filing jointly. Above those thresholds the credit phases out by $50 for every $1,000 of income over the limit, so higher earners may still receive a reduced credit rather than none.

Is the child tax credit refundable?

Partly. Up to $1,700 per child is refundable through the Additional Child Tax Credit if the credit is more than the tax you owe, as long as you have at least $2,500 of earned income. The rest is nonrefundable, which means it can reduce your tax to zero but is not paid out beyond that.

What age qualifies for the child tax credit?

A child must be under 17 at the end of the tax year, meaning 16 or younger on December 31, to qualify for the Child Tax Credit. A child who turns 17 during the year no longer qualifies for the $2,200 credit but may be eligible for the $500 Credit for Other Dependents instead.

What is the credit for other dependents?

The Credit for Other Dependents is a nonrefundable credit of up to $500 for a dependent who does not qualify for the Child Tax Credit, such as a 17-year-old, a college student you support, or a qualifying relative. It uses the same $200,000 and $400,000 income phase-out thresholds as the Child Tax Credit.