Here is new information
Who Qualifies
You can claim the Child Tax Credit for each qualifying child who has a Social Security number that is valid for employment in the United States.
To be a qualifying child for the 2021 tax year, your dependent generally must:
- Be under age 18 at the end of the year
- Be your son, daughter, stepchild, eligible foster child, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, half-brother, half-sister, or a descendant of one of these (for example, a grandchild, niece or nephew)
- Provide no more than half of their own financial support during the year
- Have lived with you for more than half the year
- Be properly claimed as your dependent on your tax return
- Not file a joint return with their spouse for the tax year or file it only to claim a refund of withheld income tax or estimated tax paid
- Have been a U.S. citizen, U.S. national or U.S. resident alien
You qualify for the full amount of the 2021 Child Tax Credit for each qualifying child if you meet all eligibility factors and your annual income is not more than:
- $150,000 if you are married and filing a joint return, or if you are filing as a qualifying widow or widower;
- $112,500 if you are filing as a head of household; or
- $75,000 if you are a single filer or are married and filing a separate return.
Parents and guardians with higher incomes may be eligible to claim a partial credit.
Use our Interactive Tax Assistant to check if you qualify.
Still not sure if you qualify for the 2021 Child Tax Credit? These resources may help:
- Filing season 2021 Child Tax Credit frequently asked questions
- Who qualifies for the Child Tax Credit
- 2021 Instructions for Schedule 8812
- Publication 501, Dependents, Standard Deduction and Filing Information
- Publication 519, U.S. Tax Guide for Aliens
How to Claim This Credit
You can claim the Child Tax Credit by entering your children and other dependents on Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, and attaching a completed Schedule 8812, Credits for Qualifying Children and Other Dependents.
If you received advance Child Tax Credit payments in 2021, find out how to compare (reconcile) your payments to claim the rest of the Child Tax Credit on your 2021 tax return.
Find more information:
- Reconciling your 2021 advance Child Tax Credit payments
- Claiming the Child Tax Credit if you don’t normally file a tax return
- What to do if you received advance Child Tax Credit payments and you don’t qualify for the Child Tax Credit
Other Tax Credits for Families
If you qualify for the Child Tax Credit, you may also qualify for these tax credits:
- Child and Dependent Care Credit
- Earned Income Tax Credit
- Adoption Credit and Adoption Assistance Programs
- Education credits
- Recovery Rebate Credit (Economic Impact Payments)
- Credits for Sick Leave and Family Leave for Certain Self-Employed Individuals
You may qualify for the Credit for Other Dependents for a child or dependent who is not a “qualifying child” for purposes of the Child Tax Credit.