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Child Tax Credit Calculator

Estimate your federal and state Child Tax Credit for 2024 based on dependents, AGI, and filing status in seconds.

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Inputs

Qualifying Children Under 17

Of Those, Children Under 6

Other Dependents (Credit for Other Dependents)

Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)

Tax Filing Status

State of Residence

Estimated Child Tax Credit

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Estimated Child Tax Credit—

The formula

How the
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computed.

How the Child Tax Credit Calculator Works

The Child Tax Credit (CTC) reduces a household's federal income tax liability by up to $2,000 per qualifying child under age 17 and up to $500 for other dependents who do not meet the full CTC criteria. Higher-income taxpayers see the credit reduced through a phase-out mechanism once Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) exceeds a filing-status threshold.

The Core Formula

This calculator applies the formula consistent with IRS Child Tax Credit guidance and the legislative analysis documented in Congressional Research Service Report R41873:

CTC = max(0, (2,000 × n_c + 500 × n_d) − 50 × ceil(max(0, AGI − T) ÷ 1,000)) + S

Variable Definitions

n_c — Qualifying children under age 17 with a valid Social Security Number claimed as dependents
n_d — Other dependents eligible for the $500 Credit for Other Dependents (e.g., children aged 17 or older, elderly parents, qualifying relatives)
AGI — Adjusted Gross Income from Form 1040, Line 11
T — Phase-out threshold: $400,000 for Married Filing Jointly; $200,000 for all other filing statuses
S — Applicable state-level child tax credit
ceil() — Ceiling function; rounds any result up to the nearest whole integer

How the Phase-Out Reduces the Credit

When AGI exceeds threshold T, the CTC decreases by $50 for every $1,000 — or fraction thereof — of income above that limit. The ceiling function ensures any partial $1,000 increment counts as a full one. If AGI exceeds the threshold by $1,500, the phase-out applies to two full increments (ceil(1.5) = 2), reducing the credit by $100 rather than $75.

Phase-Out Thresholds by Filing Status

Married Filing Jointly: Phase-out begins at $400,000 AGI
Single / Head of Household / Married Filing Separately: Phase-out begins at $200,000 AGI

Worked Example

A single filer with AGI of $215,000 and three qualifying children under age 17 calculates the credit as follows:

Base credit: 3 × $2,000 = $6,000
AGI excess above threshold: $215,000 − $200,000 = $15,000
Phase-out increments: ceil($15,000 ÷ $1,000) = 15
Phase-out reduction: 15 × $50 = $750
Estimated Federal CTC: $6,000 − $750 = $5,250

If this taxpayer resides in a state offering a $300-per-child state credit, total estimated benefit rises to $5,250 + $900 = $6,150.

Credit for Other Dependents

Dependents who do not meet CTC criteria — children aged 17 or older, elderly parents, or other qualifying relatives — may still generate a $500 nonrefundable Credit for Other Dependents. Established by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, this credit is subject to the same AGI phase-out formula as the main CTC.

State-Level Child Tax Credits

Many states supplement the federal CTC with credits that stack on top of the federal benefit. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, more than a dozen states offer refundable or nonrefundable child tax credits, with per-child values ranging from approximately $100 to over $1,000 depending on the state, child age, and household income. States such as California, Colorado, and New York have enacted credits specifically targeting families with young children.

Refundability: The Additional Child Tax Credit

When the CTC exceeds total federal tax liability, up to $1,700 (tax year 2024) of the unused credit may be refundable as the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC), calculated on IRS Schedule 8812. The ACTC equals 15% of earned income above $2,500, capped at the refundable limit. This provision allows lower-income families with minimal tax liability to still receive a partial benefit as a direct refund.

Key Eligibility Requirements

Child must be under age 17 at the end of the tax year
Child must hold a valid Social Security Number
Child must have lived with the taxpayer for more than half the year
Taxpayer must claim the child as a dependent on the federal return

Reference

Frequently asked questions

What is the child tax credit amount for 2024?

For the 2024 tax year, the Child Tax Credit provides up to $2,000 per qualifying child under age 17 with a valid Social Security Number. Up to $1,700 of that amount may be refundable as the Additional Child Tax Credit for families with lower tax liabilities. The credit phases out starting at $200,000 AGI for most filers and $400,000 for married filing jointly couples, with the benefit shrinking by $50 for every $1,000 of income above those thresholds.

How does the child tax credit phase-out calculation work?

The phase-out reduces the CTC by $50 for every $1,000 — or fraction thereof — of AGI above the applicable threshold. For single filers, heads of household, and married-filing-separately filers, the phase-out begins at $200,000; for married filing jointly, it begins at $400,000. A married couple with $410,000 AGI and two children starts with $4,000 in credits but loses 10 times $50, or $500, yielding a net credit of $3,500.

Who qualifies as a dependent child for the child tax credit?

A qualifying child must be under age 17 at the end of the tax year, claimed as a dependent on the federal return, and hold a valid Social Security Number. The child must have lived with the taxpayer for more than half the year. Qualifying relationships include sons, daughters, stepchildren, foster children, siblings, and their descendants. The child must not have provided more than half of their own financial support during the tax year.

What is the Additional Child Tax Credit and who qualifies for it?

The Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) is the refundable portion of the CTC, worth up to $1,700 in tax year 2024. When the $2,000 credit exceeds a family's federal income tax liability, the ACTC allows them to receive the difference as a direct refund. It equals 15% of earned income above $2,500, capped at the refundable limit, and is calculated on IRS Schedule 8812. This provision especially benefits working families with modest income tax burdens who cannot fully use the nonrefundable credit.

Do states offer child tax credits in addition to the federal credit?

Yes. As of 2024, more than a dozen states offer state-level child tax credits that supplement the federal benefit. Colorado provides a refundable credit worth up to 60% of the federal CTC for lower-income families. California offers a Young Child Tax Credit of approximately $1,117 per child under age 6. New York provides up to $330 per qualifying child. Credit amounts, income limits, age requirements, and refundability rules vary significantly by state, and some states restrict eligibility to specific age groups.

What is the $500 Credit for Other Dependents and who can claim it?

The Credit for Other Dependents is a $500 nonrefundable federal credit for dependents who do not qualify for the full $2,000 Child Tax Credit. Eligible individuals include children aged 17 or older who are claimed as dependents on the return, elderly parents, and other qualifying relatives whose gross income falls below the IRS exemption threshold. The credit is subject to the same AGI phase-out formula as the main CTC and was established by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 to extend family tax relief beyond the standard child credit.