ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Child tax credit (United States)

Ok kiddo, let's talk about the child tax credit in the United States.

The child tax credit is a special kind of money that parents can get from the government to help with the cost of raising their children who are under 17 years old. It’s like a gift from the government to help parents take care of their kids.

Here's how it works. When parents file their tax return, they can claim a credit of up to $2,000 for each qualifying child. This means that they can get up to $2,000 deducted from the taxes they owe to the government for each child. Let’s say a family has two kids. If they qualify for the credit, they can get up to $4,000 taken off their taxes.

To qualify for the child tax credit, parents must meet certain requirements. The child must be under 17 years old, be related to them (either as their biological child, adopted child, or stepchild), and live with them at least half the year. The parents must also have a certain amount of income to qualify for the credit, but not too much or they won't be eligible.

In addition, the child must have a Social Security number, be a U.S. citizen, or meet certain residency requirements.

The child tax credit is really helpful for families who have a hard time making ends meet, especially those who have more than one child. But it's important to remember that this credit only applies to federal income taxes, not state or local taxes.

Overall, the child tax credit is a great way for the government to help families who are raising children by giving them a break on their taxes. It helps to make sure that parents have enough money to take care of their children and give them the things they need.