Yes, you can claim both credits on the same tax return, and most families with children do

The Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) are two separate credits that measure two different things. The Child Tax Credit is based on how many children you have. The EITC is based on how much you earned. Because they answer different questions, the IRS lets you claim both in the same year — and you should, because they reduce your tax bill independently.

The key difference: the Child Tax Credit doesn't care how much money you made. The EITC doesn't care how many children you have. You meet the rules for one, you meet the rules for the other, you claim both. They don't compete for the same space on your return.

Key Takeaways

  • The Child Tax Credit and EITC are separate credits that both reduce what you owe; claiming one does not prevent you from claiming the other.
  • The Child Tax Credit is $2,000 per may have access to child under age 17, while the EITC amount depends on your income and family size, not the number of children.
  • You must have earned income to claim the EITC, but the Child Tax Credit has no income requirement — you can claim it even if you had no job.
  • Both credits can result in a refund larger than the taxes you paid, which is called a refundable credit.
  • You report both on the same Form 1040 when you file, and the IRS processes them together.

How the Child Tax Credit works on its own

The Child Tax Credit gives you $2,000 per child under age 17 who meets the relationship and citizenship requirements. You don't have to earn a certain amount to claim it. A parent who stayed home with children all year, or who had very low income, can still claim the full credit for each child.

The credit begins to shrink if your income goes above a threshold — $400,000 for married couples filing jointly, $200,000 for single filers — but most families never reach that point. Below the threshold, the credit is the same no matter what you earned.

Part of the Child Tax Credit is refundable, meaning if the credit is larger than the taxes you owe, the IRS sends you the difference. The refundable portion is called the Additional Child Tax Credit, and it can be up to $1,700 per child (the amount changes slightly year to year). The rest of the credit reduces your tax bill but doesn't create a refund if you don't owe taxes.

How the Earned Income Tax Credit works on its own

The EITC is designed for people with low to moderate earned income — wages from a job, self-employment income, or similar. The credit amount depends on how much you earned and how many children live with you. A single parent with one child gets a different credit amount than a single parent with three children at the same income level.

The EITC has income limits. For the 2023 tax year, a single filer with one child can earn up to around $46,000 and still claim some credit. With three children, the limit is higher. These limits change each year, and they're higher for married couples filing jointly. If you earn above the limit for your situation, you cannot claim the EITC that year.

The EITC is fully refundable, meaning if the credit is larger than your tax bill, you get the full amount back as a refund. This is one reason the EITC is valuable for lower-income workers — it can turn a small tax bill into a larger refund.

When you claim both credits together

On your Form 1040, you report the Child Tax Credit on one line and the EITC on another. They don't interact with each other. The IRS calculates how much you owe in taxes, then subtracts the Child Tax Credit, then subtracts the EITC. Both reductions happen.

Example: You earned $35,000 and have two children. Your tax bill before credits is $2,500. The Child Tax Credit reduces it by $4,000 (two children × $2,000). You now have a credit of $1,500 more than you owe. The EITC for your income and family size might be $3,500. That $3,500 is subtracted next, giving you a total refund of $5,000 ($1,500 from the Child Tax Credit plus $3,500 from the EITC).

The order doesn't matter — the result is the same whether the IRS subtracts the Child Tax Credit first or the EITC first. Both credits explore to your return.

Income limits and phase-outs: where they differ

The Child Tax Credit has no income requirement to claim it, but it does phase out at high income levels. The EITC has both a minimum income (you must have earned income) and a maximum income, and it phases out as you earn more.

This means a family can sometimes claim the Child Tax Credit but not the EITC if their income is too high. Or they can claim both. But they cannot claim the EITC without earned income, even if they have children and would otherwise may have access to for the Child Tax Credit.

If you're unsure whether your income falls within the EITC range, the IRS website has an EITC calculator that shows you the credit amount based on your specific situation. The Child Tax Credit calculator is also available there.

What documents you need to claim both

For the Child Tax Credit, you need the child's Social Security number, their relationship to you, and proof they lived with you for more than half the year. You don't file separate documents — you enter this information on your Form 1040.

For the EITC, you need your earned income information from your W-2 forms or self-employment records, and the same information about any may have access to children (Social Security number, relationship, residency). Again, you enter this on the Form 1040 itself.

If you file electronically, the tax software walks you through both credits and fills in the forms for you. If you file by paper, you complete Schedule 8812 for the Additional Child Tax Credit and Schedule EITC for the EITC, then attach both to your Form 1040.

Common situations where both credits explore

A single parent earning $30,000 with two children will almost certainly claim both. The EITC is designed for this income range, and the Child Tax Credit applies to any parent with may have access to children.

A married couple with one child and combined income of $50,000 can claim both. The EITC phases out at higher incomes, but at $50,000 they still may have access to.

A parent who stayed home and had no earned income can claim the Child Tax Credit but not the EITC, because the EITC requires earned income. This is an important distinction — the credits serve different purposes, and one doesn't require the other.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does claiming the Child Tax Credit reduce the amount of EITC I can get?

No. The Child Tax Credit and EITC are calculated independently. Claiming one does not change the amount of the other. Both are subtracted from your tax bill in full (or as much as you're may have access to to based on your income and family situation).

What if I have more children than I can claim on the Child Tax Credit?

The Child Tax Credit applies to each may have access to child under 17. There is no limit on the number of children you can claim. If you have five children under 17, you can claim $10,000 (five × $2,000). The EITC, however, does have a maximum credit amount regardless of how many children you have.

Can I claim the EITC if I don't have children?

Yes, but the credit amount is much smaller. Adults without may have access to children can claim a smaller EITC if their earned income is below a certain threshold (around $17,000 for single filers in 2023). You cannot claim the Child Tax Credit without children, but you may still may have access to for the EITC.

If I claim both credits, will I get audited?

Claiming both credits is normal and expected for families that meet the requirements for both. The IRS does not flag returns for claiming both. However, the EITC is audited more frequently than other credits because it has specific may be able to access rules. Keep records of your income and your children's information in case the IRS asks questions.

What happens if my income changes during the year?

You report your total earned income for the full year on your tax return, regardless of when you earned it. If you earned $40,000 total (even if you lost your job in November), you use $40,000 to calculate both credits. If your income was lower than expected, you might may have access to for a larger EITC than you thought.