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Cost & Benefits

Benefits / California

Child Tax Credit in California

Who can claim the 2026 Child Tax Credit? Figures below use the 2026 poverty guideline of $33,000 for a household of four in California, unless the program uses its own dollar table.

The largest 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent gap among ranked metros in California is $2,041: San Francisco at $3,697 and Bakersfield at $1,656.

California taxes wages at rates up to 13.30%. Combined state and local sales tax is 9.0%. The ACS effective property tax rate is 0.71%.

A household of four with $48,000 of income is about 145 percent of the $33,000 poverty guideline and is likely eligible for Child Tax Credit. Likely — up to $4,400 before phase-out.

Limits behind the page

2026 poverty guideline in California
Household100%138%185%
1$15,960$22,025$29,526
2$21,640$29,863$40,034
3$27,320$37,702$50,542
4$33,000$45,540$61,050

An illustrative household

Two adults, ages 34 and 32, filing jointly, plus children ages 8 and 3. Gross income $48,000 a year, about 145 percent of the poverty guideline in California. They rent. Nobody is marked disabled or pregnant.

Child Tax Credit

Likely eligible

Likely — up to $4,400 before phase-out

  • 2 children are under 17. The 2026 maximum is $2,200 per child, and up to $1,700 per child can be refundable.
  • The unindexed statutory phase-out starts at $400,000 for this filing status. Revenue Procedure 2025-32 confirms the credit amount and does not restate that threshold.
Child Tax Credit at the IRS

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Other programs in California

Large metros in California

Child Tax Credit in other states