The child tax credit is changing. Here’s what it means for your family.

Chabeli Carrazana for The 19th

The child tax credit is changing. Here’s what it means for your family.

A new child tax credit is coming next year, bringing significant changes that will alter how much assistance families receive — and which families can receive it.

With his tax and spending package , President Donald Trump passed a permanent change to the child tax credit spearheaded by congressional Republicans. It goes into effect for families filing income tax returns in 2026.

The changes increase the total amount of the tax credit from $2,000 to $2,200, and index it to inflation so it grows over the years, a change advocates have championed for years. However, the package also introduces new parameters to qualify for the credit that will directly affect immigrants and the lowest-