United States · Tax year 2026, filed in 2027
Child tax credit calculator 2026
A head of household on $30,000 with two children under 17 gets $3,985.00 from the 2026 child tax credit: $585.00 off the tax and $3,400.00 paid back as a refund, for a $3,900.00 refund with $500 withheld.
Change the answers below to see your own figures. It runs on the same engine as our full tax refund calculator.
Federal tax refund, 2026 return · head of household
$3,985.00 in child and dependent credits
$3,400.00 of it can come back even with no tax to pay. Your estimate: $3,900.00 refund.
Your return, step by step
| Wages (your adjusted gross income) | $30,000.00 |
|---|---|
| Standard deduction | −$24,150.00 |
| Taxable income | $5,850.00 |
| Federal income tax (top bracket 10%) | $585.00 |
| Child tax credit and credit for other dependents | −$585.00 |
| Tax for the year | $0.00 |
| Federal tax withheld from your pay | $500.00 |
| Additional child tax credit (paid even with no tax) | +$3,400.00 |
| Your refund | $3,900.00 |
An estimate for wages only, not a filed return. Federal only: no state refund.
Who gets it, and how much?
Who qualifies
- Each child under 17 at the end of 2026 who lived with you for more than half the year, whom you claim as a dependent, and who has a Social Security number valid for work. You (or your spouse, on a joint return) need one too.
- Other dependents, such as a child of 17 or over or a parent you support, get the smaller credit for other dependents.
How much
- $2,200 for each child, and $500 for each other dependent, taken off your tax.
- If the child credit is more than your tax, up to $1,700 a child comes back as a refund (the additional child tax credit): 15% of your earned income over $2,500. The credit for other dependents is never refunded.
- Both shrink by 5% of income over $200,000 ($400,000 married filing jointly), counted in whole $1,000s rounded up: $50 for each $1,000.
When
- The $2,200 credit is permanent law. From 2026 it rises with inflation each year.
A worked example
A head of household on $30,000 with two children under 17 gets $3,985.00 from the 2026 child tax credit: $585.00 off the tax and $3,400.00 paid back as a refund, for a $3,900.00 refund with $500 withheld.
| Credits | $3,985.00 |
|---|---|
| Tax it saves | $3,985.00 |
| Taxable income | $5,850.00 |
| Tax for the year | $0.00 |
| Estimate | $3,900.00 refund |
The result panel above starts on this example, step by step.
What does this estimate leave out?
- It is an estimate, not tax advice and not a filed return.
- State refunds: no state income tax is included, in any state. It is your federal refund only. States decide for themselves whether to follow the new federal deductions, and many do not.
- Self-employment income and self-employment tax, investment income (interest, dividends, capital gains) and any other income besides wages.
- Credits other than the child tax credit and the credit for other dependents: no earned income credit, education credits or child care credit.
- The Additional Medicare Tax (for one job it is withheld as it is owed), the 37% bracket’s trim of itemized deductions, and the route to the refundable child credit for families with three or more children and very low pay.
What else can I work out?
- Tax refund calculator Free 2026 tax refund calculator with the new deductions for tips, overtime, seniors and car loan interest, and the $2,200 child tax credit. No sign-up.
- No tax on tips calculator See what the no tax on tips deduction is worth to you in 2026: up to $25,000 of tips off your taxable income, the income limit, and your refund.
- No tax on overtime calculator Work out the 2026 no tax on overtime deduction: the “half” of time-and-a-half, up to $12,500 ($25,000 joint), the income limit, and your refund.
- Senior deduction calculator Work out the 2026 senior deduction: $6,000 for each person 65 or over, how it shrinks above $75,000 of income, and your refund.
- Car loan interest deduction calculator Work out the 2026 car loan interest deduction: up to $10,000 of interest on a new US-assembled car, the income limit, and your refund.
- Paycheck calculator 2026 Take-home pay per paycheck in 19 states, with 401(k), HSA and every pay schedule.
- Pay by job BLS pay and take-home for 830 jobs, to fill in your wages.
How withholding works: the W-4 form.
Questions about the child tax credit
How much is the child tax credit in 2026?
$2,200 for each qualifying child under 17. In our example, a head of household on $30,000 with two children gets $3,985.00.
How much of the child tax credit is refundable?
Up to $1,700 a child, as the additional child tax credit. It is 15% of your earned income over $2,500, so on $30,000 the most is $4,125.00.
What is the income limit for the child tax credit?
The credit shrinks by $50 for each $1,000 of income over $200,000, or $400,000 for a joint return. Two children's $4,400 is gone at $288,000 ($488,000 joint).
What about children aged 17 or over?
They can count for the $500 credit for other dependents, which lowers your tax but is never paid as a refund.
Do I need a Social Security number?
Each child needs a Social Security number valid for work, issued before your return is due. You, or your spouse on a joint return, need one too.