The American Rescue Plan (ARP) temporarily expands the Child Tax Credit (CTC) from $2,000 per child to as high as $3,600 for the 2021 tax year. The ARP also enhanced eligibility. It added one year to the threshold age of the child. So, under the new law, children up to 17 years are eligible for the child tax credit. But, before you count the tax credit per child, you need to examine if your child is eligible for it.
Child Tax Credit Eligibility Checker
Six Conditions for 2021 Child Tax Credit
- The child must be of age 17 or less at the end of the tax year.
- The child must be either your son,daughter, stepchild, foster child, adopted child, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, half sister or half brother. The child can also be the direct descendant of any of those just mentioned (e.g. your grandchild, niece or nephew).
- The child did not provide more than half of their own “support.” This is money they use for living expenses. The child also cannot file a joint return that year.
- The child must be claimed as your dependent on your federal tax return.
- The child must have social security number .Thus , a U.S. citizen, a U.S. national or a U.S. resident alien.
- The child must have lived with you for more than half of the tax year.
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