If you have children or young dependents, you may be eligible to claim the child tax credit and reduce your tax bill or increase your refund.
Understand the child tax credit changes for the 2019 tax year
Editor’s note: Information in this article was accurate at the time of publication on 1/9/2020.
Of course you’ve heard the one about death and taxes. But what about birth and taxes? Having kids means spending lots of money, but they can also save you a bundle (of joy) come tax time well beyond their birth year, which is why you need to know about the child tax credit.
First, there’s a difference between a tax credit and a tax deduction. With deductions, you subtract an amount from your income before you figure out how much, if any, you owe. Credits, on the other hand, mean you figure out the amount of tax you owe, if any, and then subtract the amount of the credit. Refundable credits can reduce your tax liability below zero; nonrefundable credits don’t.
For the 2019 tax year, there are some changes to the child tax credit you should know about. If you have young children or dependents, you can potentially reduce your final tax bill by up to $2,000 for each qualifying child. But that doesn’t mean you’ll automatically receive that amount for each child. You could also claim an additional $500 nonrefundable credit for other qualifying dependents.
Biological children, of course, but also step or foster children, their siblings or step-siblings, half-siblings, or a descendant of any of them such as your grandchild, niece, or nephew, according to the IRS.
Qualifying children must be under the age of 17 at the end of the year, and you must claim them as dependents. They won’t qualify if they provided more than half of their own support during the year, and in general, they need to have lived with you for more than half of the year. Additionally, they must be U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or U.S. residents.
You can claim the child tax credit on form 1040 or 1040-NR. So how much is the child tax credit? To figure it out, use the child tax credit worksheet provided by the IRS and include Schedule 8812 when filing your 2019 tax return.
In short: it’s an earnings consideration. The child tax credit phases out the more you earn.
For married couples filing a joint return for the 2019 tax year, the child tax credit phaseout begins at $400,000 of modified adjusted gross income. For single filers, the phaseout begins at $200,000.
For each $1,000 above these thresholds, the amount of the child tax credit is reduced by 5%, or $50.
The key to filing taxes is being prepared. TD Ameritrade provides information and resources to help you navigate tax season.
The child tax credit is now refundable up to $1,400. So if your total tax liability is zero for the year, you could potentially receive a refund from Uncle Sam of $1,400 for each qualifying dependent. But there are certain income requirements you’ll need to meet to qualify for this refund. And there’s a cap on the refundable portion—15% of earned income that exceeds $2,500.
Previously, the child tax credit was nonrefundable, and you may have been eligible for at least a partial refund of the difference via the additional child tax credit (ACTC). But the ACTC is pretty much phased out.
And remember, the child tax credit is in addition to the credits you get for child and dependent care expenses.
If you do end up with a refund, you could consider saving it for future college expenses. TD Ameritrade can help guide you through all the investment choices to develop the most appropriate investing strategy for higher education.
TD Ameritrade does not provide tax advice. We suggest you consult with a tax-planning professional with regard to your personal circumstances.
Quick Links
Trade
Invest
Service
Content intended for educational/informational purposes only. Not investment advice, or a recommendation of any security, strategy, or account type.
Be sure to understand all risks involved with each strategy, including commission costs, before attempting to place any trade. Clients must consider all relevant risk factors, including their own personal financial situations, before trading.
Market volatility, volume, and system availability may delay account access and trade executions.
Past performance of a security or strategy does not guarantee future results or success.
Options are not suitable for all investors as the special risks inherent to options trading may expose investors to potentially rapid and substantial losses. Options trading subject to TD Ameritrade review and approval. Please read Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options before investing in options.
Supporting documentation for any claims, comparisons, statistics, or other technical data will be supplied upon request.
This is not an offer or solicitation in any jurisdiction where we are not authorized to do business or where such offer or solicitation would be contrary to the local laws and regulations of that jurisdiction, including, but not limited to persons residing in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, UK, and the countries of the European Union.
TD Ameritrade, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC, a subsidiary of The Charles Schwab Corporation. TD Ameritrade is a trademark jointly owned by TD Ameritrade IP Company, Inc. and The Toronto-Dominion Bank. © 2021 Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. All rights reserved.