The refundable portion of the Child Tax Credit is known as the Additional Child Tax Credit. For the tax year 2025, to be filed in 2026, the amount is going to be the same as the previous year. By claiming it, parents can get up to $1,700. Read this article thoroughly to check the eligibility and other details about it.
The ACTC is a refundable tax credit by the United States government; it is given to eligible taxpayers with qualifying children to help with child expenses. If you have a child under 17 years, you can claim to get a refund. The maximum refund is only received if you owe 0 taxes after claiming other credits.
The payout of the ACTC can be received only via direct deposit from the 2026 tax season. Note that to receive it, you have to file your taxes electronically once the filing process for tax year 2025 is started. Note that if you e-file, you have to wait until the last week of February 2026 to get the refund.
Will ACTC Increase in the 2026 Tax Season?
No, the IRS has officially confirmed that there is no increase in the Additional Child Tax Credit for the tax year 2025. In the 2026 tax season, it is going to remain $1700 for each child under 17 years. If you have two or more children and you meet other eligibility requirements, you can expect a big refund by claiming ACTC.
The IRS is likely to start accepting the 2026 returns from January 27, 2026, although the confirmation regarding it is still awaited. The returns with ACTC will be processed after February 15, 2026, because of the PATH Act. Actually, this law stops the IRS from issuing this type of refund before mid-February.
The ACTC refund for the individuals who have filed their taxes electronically in the initial stage will be issued most probably by February 27, 2025, and after that all the refunds with the Additional Child Tax Credit will be issued within 21 days after e-filing, and in the case of on-paper filing, you have to wait for six weeks.
What is the ACTC 2026 Refund Schedule?
The IRS doesn’t release any ACTC refund schedule for any tax year. In the 2026 tax season, your ACTC refund timeline depends on your filing status. But for your convenience, we have prepared an estimated calendar to get the direct deposit in the bank account.
| Filing Date | Direct Deposit Date | |
| E-File | On-Paper | |
| By Feb 10 | Feb 27, 2026 | Mar 20, 2026 |
| Feb 17 | Mar 13, 2026 | Apr 4, 2026 |
| Feb 24 | Mar 20, 2026 | Apr 11, 2026 |
| Mar 2 | Mar 27, 2026 | Apr 18, 2026 |
| Mar 9 | Apr 3, 2026 | Apr 25, 2026 |
| Mar 16 | Apr 10, 2026 | May 2, 2026 |
| Mar 23 | Apr 17, 2026 | May 9, 2026 |
| Mar 30 | Apr 24, 2026 | May 16, 2026 |
| Apr 6 | May 1, 2026 | May 23, 2026 |
| Apr 13 | May 8, 2026 | May 30, 2026 |
| Apr 20 | May 15, 2026 | Jun 6, 2026 |
| Apr 27 | May 22, 2026 | Jun 13, 2026 |
| May 4 | May 29, 2026 | Jun 20, 2026 |
| May 11 | Jun 5, 2026 | Jun 27, 2026 |
| May 18 | Jun 12, 2026 | Jul 4, 2026 |
Note that once the IRS releases the ACTC refund via direct deposit, it is received within a few hours. It can be delayed only if there is any technical error.
How can I claim Additional Child Tax Credit?
To claim the ACTC and get a refund, it is mandatory that you file 2026 returns by filing the Form 1040 with Schedule 8812. The step-by-step instructions to do so are given below for your convenience.
- Gather W-2s, 1099s, and Social Security numbers.
- Verify you have qualifying children under 17.
- Fill in personal info on Form 1040.
- Report your income on Form 1040.
- Claim other nonrefundable credits first.
- Complete Schedule 8812 for ACTC.
- Transfer ACTC amount to Form 1040.
- File your return using e-file for fastest direct deposit.
In order to stay updated about the Additional Child Tax Credit 2026 refund, ensure to keep an eye on the official website.
Disclaimer: ACTC increase details for the 2026 tax season are informational only. Actual amounts and eligibility are determined by the IRS.