Family & Dependents Tax Credits
Showing 3 verified credits in this category
Estimates only — always confirm exact eligibility on IRS.gov or with a tax professional. See how we verify our data.
Up to $2,200 per child
Check on IRS.gov ↗Child Tax Credit (CTC)
IRS · Refundable
A federal tax credit for parents and caregivers of children under 17, with up to $1,700 per child refundable even if you owe no federal tax.
- ✓Child must be under 17 at the end of the tax year
- ✓Both the child and taxpayer need a valid Social Security number
- ✓Refundable portion (Additional CTC) capped at $1,700 per child
- ✓Credit phases out above the income thresholds
Max CreditUp to $2,200 per qualifying child under 17
Income RangeFull credit up to $200,000 (single) or $400,000 (married filing jointly) MAGI
How to ClaimClaim it on your federal tax return using Schedule 8812. No separate application.
Up to $3,000 (2 or more dependents)
Check on IRS.gov ↗Child and Dependent Care Credit
IRS · Non-refundable
Helps offset the cost of child or dependent care paid so you could work or look for work — covers care for kids under 13 or dependents unable to self-care.
- ✓Care must be for a child under 13, or a dependent unable to self-care
- ✓You (and your spouse, if filing jointly) must have earned income
- ✓Eligible expenses capped at $3,000 (one dependent) or $6,000 (two or more)
- ✓Credit percentage of 20-50% of expenses depends on your income (2026 rate increase from prior years)
Max CreditUp to $1,500 (one dependent) or $3,000 (two or more), at the top 50% rate
Income RangeNo hard income cutoff — credit percentage (20-50%) drops as income rises
How to ClaimClaim it on Form 2441 attached to your federal tax return.
Up to $17,670 per child, partly refundable
Check on IRS.gov ↗Adoption Tax Credit
IRS · Refundable
Offsets qualified expenses for adopting a child, including agency fees, legal costs, and travel — now partly refundable for the first time starting with the 2025 tax year.
- ✓Must have paid qualified adoption expenses for an eligible child (generally under 18, or any age if disabled)
- ✓Cannot double-claim the same expenses through an employer adoption-assistance exclusion
- ✓Up to $5,000 per child is now refundable starting with the 2025 tax year — a new change
- ✓Special needs adoptions may qualify for the full credit regardless of actual expenses paid
Max CreditUp to $17,670 per child (up to $5,000 refundable per child under the 2025 "One Big Beautiful Bill")
Income RangePhase-out begins at $265,080 MAGI, fully phased out at $305,080
How to ClaimClaim it on Form 8839 attached to your federal tax return.