Criteria to qualify for the Child Tax Credit
To qualify for the Child Tax Credit, a child needs to meet all of the following criteria:
- The child has lived with you at the same principal residence for more than half of the tax year.
- The child was under age 17 at the end of the tax year.
- The child hasn't provided more than one-half of their own support for the year.
- The child is the taxpayer's son, daughter, adopted child, grandchild, stepchild, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, or a descendant of the taxpayer's brother, sister, stepbrother or stepsister (for example, niece or nephew), or a foster child.
- The child is a U.S. citizen, U.S. National, or resident of the U.S with a valid social security number.
- The child is younger than you.
- The child doesn't file a joint return (other than a joint return filed solely to get a refund).
- You need to claim a dependency exemption for the child.
