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Policy Priority
THE TAX CODE

Child Tax Credit

Overview

The Child Tax Credit (CTC) helps qualifying parents with children under the age of 17 offset the cost of everyday household expenses.

The CTC is designed to ensure that the tax code reflects the fact that families have more expenses and less disposable income than individuals and couples with the same income who don’t have children. Parents can use this credit for any expense, even those unrelated to the cost of raising children.

In July of 2025, Congress increased the Child Tax Credit from $2,000 to $2,200 per qualifying child. 

Top News and
Resources

Toolkits & Talking Points

FFYF Capsule Collection: Tax Policy and Child Care

July 12, 2025

In A Nutshell With two-thirds of children ages five and under living in homes where all available parents are working, child care is not optional for most families – it’s …

Events & Hearings

VP Harris Announces ‘Child Tax Credit Awareness Day,’ Highlights American Rescue Plan Successes for Child Care

June 11, 2021

Earlier today, Vice President Kamala Harris visited CentroNía, a high-quality early learning and care facility in Washington, DC, where she spent time visiting with a group of early learners and …

Factsheets

The First Five Things To Know About: A New Poll Showing Voter Support For Child Care Funding

July 16, 2023

In July 2023, Public Opinion Strategies completed a poll on behalf of the First Five Years Fund, examining voter attitudes toward the issue of child care and early childhood education …

Policy Letters

Joint Statement: In Support of Tax Relief for Child Care

January 30, 2024

By enhancing the Child Tax Credit, the bipartisan Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024 would help more families afford the everyday expenses of raising children. The …

Events & Hearings

FFYF & Bipartisan Pre-K and Child Care Caucus Host “Child Care Means Business” Event

June 6, 2024

On June 4th, First Five Years Fund, in conjunction with the Bipartisan Pre-K and Child Care Caucus, hosted lawmakers, bipartisan Congressional staffers, and early learning advocates for a “Child Care …

Data & Analysis

The Child Tax Credit and the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit ⁠— Understanding the Difference

September 27, 2024

The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit support families in very different ways. Families need both. Child care is not a luxury for American families …


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