10/24/2026
If your child turns 17 at any point in 2026, they stop counting for the $2,200 Child Tax Credit on the return you file in early 2027.
The rule looks at one date: your child's age on December 31. Under 17 qualifies. Seventeen does not, even if the birthday is December 31 and they're still in high school, living at home, and fully supported by you.
A child who turns 17 next January is still 16 on December 31, 2026, so you get the full credit one more year.
The cutoff isn't new. It has been under 17 since the credit started in 1998. The one exception was 2021, when a temporary law counted 17-year-olds for a single year, which is why some parents remember getting it.
Turning 17 doesn't drop the child off your return. They move to the $500 Credit for Other Dependents. So does an 18-year-old, a full-time student through age 23, or a parent you support who qualifies as your dependent.
The $500 works differently. It can only lower the tax you owe. If you owe nothing, it pays nothing.
The $2,200 credit can pay you even when you owe no tax, up to $1,700 per child, but only if you work. The refund builds at 15% of earned income above $2,500. One child needs about $13,834 of earnings for the full $1,700, and two children need about $25,167.
For a college student, the American Opportunity Credit can add up to $2,500 a year for tuition and books, on top of the $500.
P.S. Once a week, I email the best money article I read, with my take on this week's top Facebook posts and what's new on the Ways to Wealth blog. It's free, and you can sign up on the Ways to Wealth home page.
R.J. Weiss, CFP®
The content shared here is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not personalized investment, tax, legal, or financial advice. Consult a licensed professional before making decisions based on your specific situation.
