The Child Tax Credit is a federal tax benefit designed to help families offset the costs of raising children. It provides eligible taxpayers with a credit for each qualifying dependent under a certain age. This credit can reduce your tax bill or increase your refund, making it a valuable financial tool for parents.
The One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) delivers meaningful changes for parents and caregivers—raising credit amounts, expanding income thresholds, and improving dependent care benefits.
At Molen & Associates, we know these updates can make a significant difference in your yearly tax bill. Here’s what’s new and how to make the most of these provisions.
|
Credit/Program |
Pre-OBBB Phaseout Thresholds |
Post-OBBB Phaseout Thresholds |
Key Changes |
|
Child Tax Credit |
$110,000 (joint), $75,000 (HoH/single), $55,000 (MFS) |
$150,000 (joint), $112,500 (HoH), $75,000 (single/MFS) |
Increased thresholds for joint and HoH filers; single filers remain unchanged. |
|
Child and Dependent Care Credit |
$15,000 (phaseout begins), $43,000 (minimum 20%) |
$125,000 (phaseout begins), $400,000 (complete phaseout) |
Higher thresholds and increased maximum credit percentage (50%). |
|
Dependent Care Assistance |
$5,000 exclusion, no phaseout |
$7,500 exclusion, phaseout begins at $150,000 |
Increased exclusion amount and introduction of a phaseout threshold. |
Child Tax Credit: Increased Amount & Expanded Eligibility
The Child Tax Credit (CTC) has increased from $2,000 to $2,200 per qualifying child, with annual adjustments for inflation going forward.
To claim the credit, you must provide a valid Social Security Number (SSN) for each qualifying child.
Phaseout Thresholds Before and After the OBBB
|
Credit/Program |
Pre-OBBB Phaseout Thresholds |
Post-OBBB Phaseout Thresholds |
Key Changes |
|
Child Tax Credit |
$110,000 (joint), $75,000 (HoH/single), $55,000 (MFS) |
$150,000 (joint), $112,500 (HoH), $75,000 (single/MFS) |
Increased thresholds for joint and HoH filers; single filer threshold unchanged. |
Why it matters: More families—especially those in moderate- to higher-income brackets—will now qualify for at least part of the credit.
Dependent Care Credit: More Support for Working Families
The Child and Dependent Care Credit helps offset the cost of daycare, preschool, summer camps, and similar care for children under 13 (or qualifying dependents of any age who are unable to care for themselves).
Under the OBBB:
- Maximum credit percentage increased from 35% to 50% of qualifying expenses.
- Phaseout begins at $125,000 of adjusted gross income (AGI), compared to $15,000 before.
- Complete phaseout now occurs at $400,000, giving many more families partial credit eligibility.
|
Credit/Program |
Pre-OBBB Phaseout Thresholds |
Post-OBBB Phaseout Thresholds |
Key Changes |
|
Child and Dependent Care Credit |
$15,000 (phaseout begins), $43,000 (minimum 20%) |
$125,000 (phaseout begins), $400,000 (complete phaseout) |
Higher income thresholds and larger maximum credit percentage (50%). |
Example: If you spend $6,000 on qualifying care for one child and have AGI under $125,000, you could receive a credit of up to $3,000—$1,800 more than before.
Employer-Provided Dependent Care Assistance: Higher Exclusion
If your employer offers dependent care benefits (often through a flexible spending account or FSA), the maximum tax-free exclusion has increased:
- From $5,000 to $7,500 for most taxpayers.
- From $2,500 to $3,750 for married individuals filing separately.
For the first time, a phaseout applies beginning at $150,000 AGI.
|
Credit/Program |
Pre-OBBB Phaseout Thresholds |
Post-OBBB Phaseout Thresholds |
Key Changes |
|
Dependent Care Assistance |
$5,000 exclusion, no phaseout |
$7,500 exclusion, phaseout begins at $150,000 |
Larger exclusion amount and new phaseout threshold. |
Who Benefits Most from These Changes?
Working Parents
Higher thresholds mean families who previously phased out of the Child Tax Credit or dependent care benefits may now qualify for partial or full amounts.
Dual-Income Households
Employer-provided dependent care assistance becomes more valuable, especially when paired with the increased dependent care credit.
Self-Employed Parents
While dependent care FSAs are generally employer-based, self-employed taxpayers can still benefit from the Child and Dependent Care Credit if they pay for qualifying care to enable them to work.
Planning Tips
- Coordinate benefits: You can use employer-provided dependent care assistance and claim the dependent care credit—but not for the same expenses.
- Track expenses carefully: Keep receipts for daycare, after-school programs, summer camps, and qualifying elder care.
- Plan for phaseouts: If your AGI is near a threshold, year-end tax planning can help you keep more of these benefits.
Final Takeaway
The OBBB’s updates to the Child Tax Credit and dependent care provisions make these benefits more accessible to middle- and upper-middle-income families while increasing the maximum amounts. For many taxpayers, that means hundreds—or even thousands—of extra dollars in annual tax savings.
Want to see how these changes could benefit your family?
📖 Read more about the OBBB: molentax.com/obbb-webinar-series/#blogs
🎓 Attend a free webinar: molentax.com/obbb-webinar-series/#register
📅 Schedule a 1-on-1 consultation: molentax.com/contact
