How do I get child tax credit?

The child tax credit is a $2,000 (just for 2021 it is $3,600 for a child 5 years or younger and $3,000 for children between the ages of 6 and 17.) tax credit for each qualifying dependent child claimed on your return.

To qualify, your child must meet all of these requirements:

• Be under age 17 at the end of the tax year
• Is your child, stepchild, foster child, adopted child, sibling, step sibling, half sibling, or a descendant of any of them (for example, a grandchild, niece, or nephew)
• Has their own Social Security Number
  • Children with ITINs don't qualify, but may instead be eligible for the $500 Credit for Other Dependents
• Lived with you for more than half the year
• Didn't support themselves (didn't pay more than half their own expenses)
• Is a US citizen, US national, or US resident alien
  • Residents of Canada or Mexico don't qualify

What is the Child Tax Credit? 

Child Tax Credit 

You have to file a 2021 federal tax return with children under the age of 18 as your dependents.