Child Tax Credit Calculator
Estimate your 2026 Child Tax Credit from the number of children and your income, including the phase-out.
Want to understand the concept, not just the number? Read The Family Tax Credits Guide .
How it's calculated
The Child Tax Credit is one of the most valuable breaks for families, because a credit reduces your tax bill dollar for dollar, unlike a deduction that only reduces taxable income. For 2026 it is worth up to 2,200 dollars for each qualifying child under 17, and much of it is refundable, meaning it can boost your refund even if you owe little tax.
The full credit is available up to an income threshold, then it phases out. Take the default. Two children give a base credit of 4,400 dollars. At 120,000 dollars of income, well under the 400,000 dollar threshold for joint filers, you get all of it. But at 220,000 dollars for a single filer, whose threshold is 200,000, the credit drops by 50 dollars for every 1,000 dollars over, so 20,000 dollars over the line cuts it by 1,000 dollars, leaving 3,400 dollars.
The thresholds are high, 200,000 dollars for single filers and 400,000 for joint, so most families receive the full credit. The credit is per child, so it scales with family size, and up to 1,700 dollars per child is refundable through the Additional Child Tax Credit if your tax bill is small. Enter your children and income to see your credit.
Assumptions
- The 2026 credit is 2,200 dollars per qualifying child under 17. It phases out by 50 dollars for every 1,000 dollars of income over 200,000 single or 400,000 joint.
- Up to 1,700 dollars per child is refundable. This estimates the credit amount, not the refundable portion, which depends on your earned income and tax owed.
Last updated: 2026-08-08 · Tax year 2026
These assumptions follow our general methodology.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Child Tax Credit for 2026?
Up to 2,200 dollars per qualifying child under 17, with up to 1,700 dollars per child refundable. The full amount is available below the income thresholds and phases out above them.
What is the income limit for the Child Tax Credit?
The phase-out begins at 200,000 dollars for single filers and 400,000 dollars for joint filers. Above those, the credit drops by 50 dollars for every 1,000 dollars of income over the threshold, so it takes a high income to lose it entirely.
Is the Child Tax Credit refundable?
Partly. Up to 1,700 dollars per child can be refunded even if you owe no tax, through the Additional Child Tax Credit, subject to an earned-income requirement. The rest reduces your tax bill but is not refunded beyond that.
Who counts as a qualifying child?
Generally your child, stepchild, foster child, sibling, or a descendant of any of them, who is under 17 at the end of the year, lived with you more than half the year, and did not provide more than half their own support. They also need a valid Social Security number.