Which States Offer a Child Tax Credit?

You may have heard about the federal child tax credit and what may or may not happen to it after 2025, but if you’re a parent heading into tax season, you should also know that 16 states offer their own child tax credit for dependent children. also.

Whether at the state or federal level, child tax credits can provide parents with a financial lifeline, putting money in their pockets every year for each child they have. While the temporary expansion of the federal child tax credit expires in 2026 Unless Congress acts, parents in a handful of states may also qualify for additional state-level credits, although the amounts offered and eligibility requirements vary quite a bit.

The impact of child tax credits has been significant, even just in the past few years. Research on the temporary expansion of federal credits in 2021 shows that this was a major factor in reducing child poverty. Columbia University Center on Poverty and Social Policy found that the payments reduced monthly rates of child poverty by almost 30%, with payments reaching approximately 61 million children.

Read on to find out if your state offers a child tax credit and if your family qualifies. For more information about taxes, read about how the IRS may handle payment apps and how the new income tax brackets could affect you.

What is a child discount?

With a child tax credit, eligible taxpayers may be able to reduce their income taxes based on the number of children they claim as dependents.

The federal-level credit, first introduced in 1997, currently offers $2,000 per child, of which only $1,600 is refundable, meaning you can receive that amount even if you don’t owe that much in taxes. The remaining $400 is non-refundable, so it can only be used to reduce your tax burden.

The current value of the federal credit was determined by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which temporarily suspends the credit through December 31, 2025. After that date, without any additional expansion by Congress, the credit will revert to its previous amount : $1,000, non-refundable, per dependent child under 16 years of age.

Which States Offer a Child Tax Credit?

Whatever happens with the federal child tax credit in 2026, parents in the following 16 states can rest a little easier knowing they may also be able to get a state-level credit: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah and Vermont.

However, the specifics of these credits – including how much they are worth, how much is refundable and what counts as a dependent child – will vary widely depending on the state.

How much is the child tax credit for each state child and who is eligible?

These are the 16 states that have offered child tax credits as of October 2024, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Eligibility and amount vary by state, with 12 of the states making the credit refundable, so you can get a refund even if you don’t owe taxes.

Arizona: $100 per dependent child under 17 years of age, non-refundable.

California: $1,117 per eligible dependent child under age 6, refundable. Income must be less than $25,000 for the full amount, with the amount reduced for families with incomes between $25,000 and $30,931. Must also qualify for the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit.

Colorado: Up to $3,200 per eligible dependent under age 16, refundable. The exact amount depends on income and filing status.

Idaho: $205 per dependent child under age 17, non-refundable.

Illinois: Credit worth 20% of the state income tax credit per dependent child under age 12, refundable.

Maine: $300 per dependent child under 17, refundable.

Maryland: $500 per eligible child under 17, refundable. However, the child must have a disability and the family’s adjusted gross income must be $6,000 or less to qualify.

Massachusetts: $180 for one dependent child under 12, or $360 for two or more, refundable. The credit also applies to adults aged 65 or older or anyone with a disability.

Minnesota: $1,750 per dependent child, refundable, for single filers making $29,500 or less, or $35,000 for joint filers.

New Jersey: $500 per dependent child under age 6 for taxpayers earning less than $30,000, refundable. Credit will be reduced in $100 increments as income range increases, with the smallest credit, $100 per dependent, available to those with incomes of $120,000-$150,000.

New Mexico: Between $75 and $175 per dependent child under 17, depending on income level, refundable.

New York: The credit is the greater of the value to the taxpayer: either 33% of the portion of the federal child tax credit and the federal supplemental child tax credit attributable to qualifying children, or $100 times the number of qualifying children. Credit refundable, children must be 16 years or younger.

Oklahoma: 5% of the federal child tax credit per household, nonrefundable. Not available to married couples filing jointly with gross income over $100,000.

Oregon: $1,000 per dependent child under age 5, refundable. Available only to families earning less than $30,000.

Utah: $1,000 per dependent child between 1 and 3 years, non-refundable. The credit decreases by $10 for every $1 of income above a certain threshold: $27,000 for married filers filing separately, $43,000 for single filers, or $54,000 for joint filers.

Vermont: $1,000 per dependent child under age 5 for taxpayers earning less than $125,000, refundable.

To learn more, check out CNET’s picks of the best tax software to get in 2024.