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Nia Davis

Child Tax Credit for 2024 Newborns - How Much This Year?

We're expecting our first child in June and I'm trying to get our finances in order. How much is the Child Tax Credit for newborns in the 2024 tax year? I've seen different amounts mentioned online. Does it phase out at certain income thresholds? If so, what are those thresholds exactly? Also, is there any benefit to filing differently this year in preparation for next year's taxes? We're both W-2 employees with combined income around $185k if that matters.

Nia Davis

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Oh my goodness, congratulations on your upcoming arrival! For 2024, the Child Tax Credit is $2,000 per qualifying child under 17. Your newborn will definitely qualify! I'm a bit concerned though because with your combined income of $185k, you might be approaching the phase-out threshold. The credit starts phasing out at $200,000 for single filers and $400,000 for married filing jointly. So you should be okay, but it's something to keep an eye on if either of you expects raises or bonuses!

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I went through this last year with my December baby. According to the IRS website (https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/child-tax-credit), any child born anytime during 2024 qualifies for the full year credit. You don't prorate it based on birth month. So even though your baby arrives in June, you'll get the full $2,000 when you file your 2024 taxes (in 2025).

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QuantumQueen

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Just had our first last year and was pleasantly surprised how straightforward it was! šŸ˜‚ The tax software basically just asked "Did you have a baby in 2023?" and boom - $2,000 credit. Make sure you get the Social Security card process started at the hospital though. That's the one thing that can slow everything down if you wait too long!

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Aisha Rahman

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I'm wondering, does the credit come as a refund or does it just reduce your tax liability? I believe it might be partially refundable, but I'm not entirely sure about the specifics for 2024.

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Ethan Wilson

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We had our second child last year and I was confused about all the credit details too. I ended up using https://taxr.ai to analyze our situation before filing. It walked me through exactly how much we qualified for with our income and showed how having a new dependent changed our overall tax picture. I've always been skeptical of tax tools, but this one actually showed me how to maximize our credits without making any questionable claims.

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Yuki Sato

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I claimed the full $2,000 for my daughter born last September. My return was processed without any issues - much smoother than when I tried claiming education credits back in 2022. That was a nightmare of verification requests!

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Just to clarify - the Child Tax Credit has two components for 2024. Up to $1,600 of the $2,000 credit is refundable (called the Additional Child Tax Credit). This means you can receive this portion even if you don't owe any tax. The remaining $400 is non-refundable and can only offset tax you actually owe.

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Andre Dubois

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When I had questions about my newborn's tax credit situation last year, I spent DAYS trying to reach the IRS. Finally used Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) and got through to an agent in about 15 minutes who confirmed everything for me. • Confirmed my baby qualified for full credit • Verified my income was below phase-out threshold • Explained how refundable portion works • Suggested additional credits I qualified for Worth it to get definitive answers from an actual IRS agent?

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CyberSamurai

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The Child Tax Credit regulations for 2024 are actually quite straightforward. IRC Section 24 clearly establishes that any child with a TIN (Tax Identification Number) who meets the qualifying child definition under Section 152(c) and is under age 17 at the close of the calendar year qualifies for the full $2,000 credit. The refundable portion (ACTC) is calculated as 15% of earned income exceeding $2,500, up to the maximum refundable amount of $1,600 per qualifying child.

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I just went through this process for my 2023 taxes with our November baby, and it was much simpler than our rental property deductions! You'll need to get a Social Security Number for your baby though - the hospital will give you the paperwork, but it takes a few weeks to process. The IRS won't accept your return claiming the credit without a valid SSN for the child.

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Jamal Carter

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What if the SSN hasn't arrived by April 15th, 2025? My sister had this issue on March 28th this year with her December baby and ended up having to file an extension.

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Mei Liu

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You can absolutely file an extension in that case. I had to do this last year. The extension gives you until October 15, 2025, to file without penalties. Just remember that any taxes you owe are still due by April 15, 2025 - the extension is only for filing, not for payment. We received our baby's SSN exactly 4 weeks and 3 days after applying.

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Isn't there also an adoption credit that's different from the Child Tax Credit? What if someone adopts a newborn instead of having a biological child? Would they qualify for both in the same tax year?

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Amara Nwosu

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Think of adoption credits like buying a house vs. the Child Tax Credit like your annual property tax benefits. The adoption credit (up to $15,950 for 2024) covers qualified adoption expenses, while the $2,000 Child Tax Credit is an annual benefit for having a dependent child. You can claim both, but they serve different purposes - one for the upfront costs of adoption, the other for ongoing support of raising a child.

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Dylan Wright

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Congratulations on your upcoming bundle of joy! šŸŽ‰ As a parent who just went through this process, I can confirm that the $2,000 Child Tax Credit for 2024 is exactly right. What's great is that even though your baby arrives in June, you'll qualify for the full credit when you file your 2024 taxes next year - no proration needed! With your combined income of $185k, you're well within the safe zone. The phase-out doesn't start until $400k for married filing jointly, so you have plenty of breathing room there. One tip from my experience: start the Social Security number application process at the hospital right after birth. It typically takes 4-6 weeks to receive the card, and you'll need that SSN to claim the credit on your 2024 return. If for some reason it doesn't arrive by April 15, 2025, you can always file an extension to give yourself more time. Also, don't forget that up to $1,600 of that $2,000 credit is refundable, meaning you could get money back even if you don't owe taxes. The remaining $400 can offset any tax liability you have. It's honestly one of the more straightforward tax benefits to claim!

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