How to Claim Child Tax Credit on Your Tax Return

Claiming the Child Tax Credit isn't complicated, but missing a detail — wrong SSN, unmarked checkbox, forgotten schedule — can delay your refund or lose the credit entirely. Here's how to get it right.

Check your estimated credit first with the Child Tax Credit Calculator.

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What You Need Before Filing

Gather these for each qualifying child:

No SSN for the child? You can't claim the $2,000 CTC, but a child with an ITIN may qualify for the $500 Other Dependent Credit.

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Step-by-Step Filing

Step 1 — Enter Dependent Information on Your 1040

On page 1 of your Form 1040, in the "Dependents" section:

• Enter each child's name, SSN, and relationship
• Check the box for "Child tax credit" (not "credit for other dependents")

This is where most mistakes happen. Wrong box = wrong credit.

Step 2 — Complete Schedule 8812

Schedule 8812 (Credits for Qualifying Children and Other Dependents) calculates both the CTC and ACTC. Key lines:

• Line 4: Number of qualifying children for CTC
• Line 5: Number of other dependents for ODC
• Line 12: Your credit amount before phase-out
• Line 14: Credit after phase-out
• Line 27: Refundable ACTC (the part you get back as a refund)

If using tax software, all of this is automated — you just answer the interview questions.

Step 3 — Transfer to Form 1040

• Nonrefundable portion → 1040 Line 19
• Refundable ACTC → 1040 Line 28

The sum reduces your tax bill and/or increases your refund.

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Qualifying Child Rules — Quick Checklist

Your child must meet ALL of these tests:

• Age: Under 17 at the end of the tax year
• Relationship: Your son, daughter, stepchild, foster child, sibling, or descendant of any of these
• Residency: Lived with you for more than half the year
• Support: Did not provide more than half of their own support
• Citizenship: U.S. citizen, national, or resident alien
• SSN: Has a valid Social Security number issued before the due date of the return
• Filing status: Child doesn't file a joint return (unless only to claim a refund)

If any test fails, the child doesn't qualify for the CTC. They may still qualify as an "other dependent" for the $500 credit.

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Common Mistakes That Delay Refunds

1. Wrong Social Security Number Transposed digits are the #1 reason for rejected CTC claims. Double-check every digit against the actual Social Security card.

2. Claiming a child who doesn't live with you The residency test requires more than 6 months. Temporary absences (school, vacation, medical care) count as time living with you. But if your child lived with your ex-spouse for 7+ months, your ex gets the credit — unless they sign Form 8332 releasing the claim.

3. Missing Schedule 8812 If you paper-file and forget to attach Schedule 8812, the IRS will process your return without the credit. Always check that it's included.

4. Filing too early with ACTC Returns claiming the refundable ACTC are held until mid-February (PATH Act). Filing on January 2nd won't get your refund faster — it'll sit in processing until the IRS releases EITC/ACTC refunds.

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Divorced or Separated Parents

Only one parent can claim the CTC for a specific child in a given year. Generally, the custodial parent (who the child lived with for more nights) gets the credit.

The noncustodial parent can claim it ONLY if the custodial parent signs Form 8332 (Release/Revocation of Release of Claim to Exemption for Child). See CTC rules for divorced parents for details.

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Filing Methods

For most families, free tax software handles the CTC correctly. It walks you through the qualifying child questions and fills Schedule 8812 automatically.

Use the Federal Tax Calculator to estimate your total refund including CTC, ACTC, and other credits.