08/16/2023
The Child Tax Credit (CTC) is a tax credit designed to provide financial assistance to taxpayers with qualifying children.
1. Eligibility: To qualify for the Child Tax Credit, you must meet certain criteria. You must have a qualifying child who is under the age of 17 at the end of the tax year. The child must be your dependent, have a valid Social Security number, and meet the relationship, residency, and support requirements.
2. Credit Amount: The maximum credit amount for the Child Tax Credit is $2,000 per qualifying child. This credit is non-refundable, meaning it can only reduce your tax liability and cannot result in a tax refund on its own.
3. Additional Child Tax Credit: If the amount of the Child Tax Credit exceeds your tax liability, you may be eligible for the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC). The ACTC is refundable and can provide a tax refund if you have earned income of at least $2,500.
4. Phase-Out: The Child Tax Credit begins to phase out for taxpayers with higher incomes. The phase-out threshold for 2021 is $200,000 for single filers and $400,000 for married filing jointly.
5. Changes under the American Rescue Plan Act: Under the American Rescue Plan Act, enacted in March 2021, the Child Tax Credit has been temporarily expanded for the 2021 tax year. Eligible families can receive an increased credit of up to $3,000 per child ($3,600 for children under the age of 6). The credit is also made fully refundable, and a portion of it can be received in advance monthly payments starting in July 2021.
