Child Tax Credit Calculator 2026
The 2026 child tax credit is $2,200 per qualifying child, with up to $1,700 refundable. Enter your income, filing status, and number of children to see your estimated credit and any phase-out.
How Child Tax Credit Calculator Works
Calculate your 2026 child tax credit. Up to $2,200 per qualifying child with $1,700 refundable. CTC calculator with phase-out calculation. Enter your values into the form above and the calculator processes them instantly in your browser — no data is sent to any server.
2026 Child Tax Credit Overview
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act increased the child tax credit from $2,000 to $2,200 per qualifying child starting with the 2025 tax year. The credit is now indexed for inflation. Up to $1,700 of the credit is refundable (Additional Child Tax Credit), meaning you can get money back even if you owe no tax.
Key Rules
2026 Child Tax Credit Quick Reference
- Maximum credit: $2,200 per child
- Refundable portion: up to $1,700 per child (Additional CTC)
- Child must be under 17 at end of tax year
- Phase-out begins: $200,000 MAGI (single/HOH) / $400,000 (married filing jointly)
- Phase-out rate: $50 reduction per $1,000 over threshold
- Child must have a valid SSN
- Credit is indexed for inflation starting 2026
Who Is a Qualifying Child?
Your child must be under age 17 at the end of the tax year, a U.S. citizen, national, or resident alien, claimed as your dependent, lived with you for more than half the year, and have a valid Social Security number. The child can be your son, daughter, stepchild, foster child, sibling, or a descendant of any of these.
2026 Child Tax Credit Amount After the OBBB Permanence
The Child Tax Credit rises to $2,200 per qualifying child under 17 for 2026 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (2025), with the refundable portion (Additional Child Tax Credit) capped at $1,700 per child indexed for inflation per the IRS Child Tax Credit page. The OBBB also made the credit permanent — it no longer reverts to $1,000/child at the end of 2025 as previously scheduled. Phase-out remains at $400,000 modified AGI (MFJ) or $200,000 (single/HoH), reducing the credit $50 for every $1,000 above the threshold. A family with two kids earning $50,000 gets the full $4,400; at $250,000 single AGI the $4,400 credit phases down to $1,900. To claim the refundable portion (up to $1,700/child), you need $2,500+ in earned income. Updated 2026-07-06.
Tips for Getting Accurate Results
For the most accurate results, use up-to-date numbers from official sources. Double-check your inputs before calculating — small errors in the starting values can lead to significantly different outputs. If you are comparing scenarios, keep all variables the same except the one you are testing. Save or screenshot your results for future reference. This calculator uses standard formulas and is designed to give you a reliable quick estimate, though professional advice may be needed for complex situations.