Child Tax Credit Estimate

Free Child Tax Credit Estimate calculator with clear step-by-step results.

About Child Tax Credit Estimate

Multiplies the per-child credit by the number of qualifying children, then applies the income phase-out in whole thousand-dollar steps as the statute requires. The refundable cap limits how much of the credit can come back as a refund when it exceeds your tax liability.

Formulas

Phase-out reduction

Reduction = ceil((MAGI - threshold) / 1,000) x loss per $1,000

Estimated credit

Credit = children x credit per child - reduction, floored at zero

Worked example

With the default values below, Child Tax Credit Estimate returns Estimated child tax credit of $4,000.00. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Qualifying childrenaccepts 0–12: 2
Credit per childminimum 0 $: 2,000 $
Modified adjusted gross incomeminimum 0 $: 95,000 $
Phase-out threshold for your filing statusminimum 0 $: 200,000 $
Credit lost per $1,000 over the thresholdminimum 0 $: 50 $
Refundable cap per childminimum 0 $: 1,700 $

Results

Estimated child tax credit: $4,000.00
Credit before phase-out: $4,000.00
Reduction from income phase-out: $0.00
Maximum refundable portion: $3,400.00

Step by step

1Values used
2Phase-out reduction
3Estimated credit
4Estimated child tax credit= $4,000.00
5Credit before phase-out= $4,000.00
6Reduction from income phase-out= $0.00
7Maximum refundable portion= $3,400.00

Assumptions and limits

The result is derived only from the 6 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
Figures are rounded for display to 2 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.
Tax estimate only. Credit amounts, thresholds, refundable caps and eligibility tests change with legislation and differ by filing status and jurisdiction. Confirm with current tax guidance or a qualified preparer.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Tax estimate only. Credit amounts, thresholds, refundable caps and eligibility tests change with legislation and differ by filing status and jurisdiction. Confirm with current tax guidance or a qualified preparer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why round up to whole thousands?

The phase-out is written in $1,000 increments, so being $1 over the threshold triggers the full first step rather than a proportional reduction.

Is the refundable portion the same as my refund?

No. It is the ceiling on how much credit can exceed your tax liability, and it also depends on earned income. Your actual refund depends on withholding and every other item on the return.