Parents can get up to $2,200 per child on their 2026 taxes. Here's who qualifies and why some families get less.
At a glance
$2,200Per child under 17 for 2026
$1,700Most per child that can come back as a refund
$500For other dependents, like a 17-year-old
Your child must be under 17 at the end of 2026 and have a Social Security number.
The credit lowers your tax first. Up to $1,700 per child can be refunded if your tax is low.
You need at least $2,500 of earned income to get any of it back as a refund.
1Who qualifies
The child is under 17 on December 31, 2026.
The child is your son, daughter, stepchild, foster child, brother, sister, or a child or grandchild of one of them.
The child lived with you for more than half the year and you claim them as a dependent.
The child has a Social Security number valid for work. You (or your spouse, if filing together) need one too.
Older kids and other people you support, like a parent, can get a smaller $500 credit instead.
2How the money reaches you
Think of it in two parts:
Part one lowers your tax bill. If you owe $3,000 in tax and have one child, your tax drops to $800.
Part two is a refund. If the credit is bigger than your tax, you can get up to $1,700 per child back. It's capped at 15% of what you earned over $2,500.
Higher earners get less. The credit starts shrinking at $200,000 of income ($400,000 for married couples).
3Three quick examples
Family
What they get
Two kids, earns $60,000, married
The full $4,400. Most of it lowers their tax.
One kid, earns $18,000, single parent
About $1,700 back as a refund, because they owe little tax.
One kid, earns $10,000
About $1,125 back: 15% of the $7,500 earned above $2,500.
These are rounded estimates. Your exact amount depends on your whole return.
You claim it on your federal tax return using Schedule 8812. Tax software and free filing sites do this for you when you list your children.
Low- and moderate-income families can get their return done for free at a VITA site. Families who claim this credit and the EITC often get the biggest refunds of the year.