Estimate the 2026 child tax credit with income phase-outs.
Please do not make financial decisions based on these results.
What is the Child Tax Credit Calculator?
Estimate the 2026 child tax credit with income phase-outs. To use the Child Tax Credit Calculator, enter qualifying children, modified agi, filing status; it returns child tax credit, credit per child, reduction from income, and shows them instantly as you type.
How income is taxed
Federal income tax is progressive, so higher slices of income are taxed at higher rates. Your filing status, deductions and pre-tax contributions determine your taxable income. Start with the income tax calculator and then see the effect on your paycheck with the take-home paycheck calculator.
Pay and filing questions
To compare hourly, weekly and yearly pay, use the salary calculator. If you are married, the marriage tax calculator compares filing together with filing as two single people.
How to use the Child Tax Credit Calculator
- Fill in the fields. You will need Qualifying children, Modified AGI ($). Use the tax year and filing status that apply to you, and gross figures unless a field says otherwise. Fields marked optional can stay at zero.
- Choose your options. Filing status change how the result is worked out, and the form updates to match your choice.
- Read the result. The highlighted box gives the Child tax credit, and the cards below show Credit per child, Reduction from income. Tables and charts break it down further.
- Test other scenarios. Results update as you type. Change one value at a time to see what drives the answer, and press Reset to go back to the defaults.
Formula and how it works
Example with real numbers
Here is the Child Tax Credit Calculator using the default values shown in the calculator above:
Inputs
| Qualifying children | 2 |
|---|---|
| Modified AGI ($) | 95,000 |
| Filing status | Single or head of household |
Results
| Child tax credit | $4,400.00 |
|---|---|
| Credit per child | $2,200.00 |
| Reduction from income | $0.00 |
With these inputs the calculator returns Child tax credit: $4,400.00. Change any value in the calculator to see how the result moves.
What if you change one input?
Sensitivity check: raising Qualifying children from 2 to 2.4 (about 20% higher) and leaving everything else as in the example above changes the results like this:
| Result | Example | After the change | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child tax credit | $4,400.00 | $5,280.00 | +20% |
| Credit per child | $2,200.00 | $2,200.00 | 0% |
| Reduction from income | $0.00 | $0.00 | 0% |
The input that moves the result most is the one to check twice. Change it in the calculator above to test your own case.
What the results tell you
The results panel of the Child Tax Credit Calculator reports Child tax credit, credit per child and reduction from income. Compare these figures while changing one input at a time, and use the related calculators below to look at the same situation from another angle.
Method and limits. This calculator applies the formula in the section above to your inputs, in your browser; nothing you enter is stored on our servers. Tax rules change every year and depend on your full situation (state, filing status, credits), so treat the result as an estimate and confirm it with the IRS or a tax professional. It is for information, not financial, tax or legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Is the child tax credit refundable?
Up to $1,700 per child can be refundable as the additional child tax credit in 2026.
Is this tax advice?
No. Please do not make tax decisions based on these results. Use a tax professional for your actual return.
What is the difference between gross and net pay?
Gross pay is what you earn before deductions. Net pay, or take-home pay, is what remains after taxes and deductions.
Are the results guaranteed?
No. Results depend entirely on the numbers you enter and the formulas shown on this page. Please do not make financial decisions based on them alone; confirm important figures with a licensed professional.
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