Young Child Tax Credit Calculator
Have a child under 6? Find out how much of California's refundable Young Child Tax Credit you can get.
For tax year 2025, the Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC) is worth up to $1,189 per return if you have a child under 6 and qualify for CalEITC. You get the full amount with earned income up to $27,425; above that it drops by $21.71 per $100 and ends at $32,901. Families with no earnings or a business loss can still qualify.
Use the numbers from your 2025 return (the one you file in 2026). Earned income means wages, salaries, tips and net self-employment earnings.
Young Child Tax Credit Calculator
Your Young Child Tax Credit
You may also get CalEITC itself (up to $3,756) on the same form.
How this is calculated
This follows form FTB 3514, Part VII, for tax year 2025:
- If earned income is $27,425 or less, the credit is $1,189.
- Otherwise, take the earned income over $27,425, divide by 100 and multiply by $21.71 (both steps cut to cents, not rounded). Subtract that from $1,189.
- A result between $0 and $1 becomes $1; anything above $1 is rounded to the nearest dollar.
- Part-year residents multiply the credit by the CA exemption credit percentage on Form 540NR, line 38.
| Earned income | Young Child Tax Credit |
|---|---|
| $0 | $1,189 |
| $15,000 | $1,189 |
| $27,425 | $1,189 |
| $28,500 | $956 |
| $30,000 | $630 |
| $31,500 | $304 |
| $32,500 | $87 |
| $32,900 | $1 |
The credit is per return, not per child: two children under 6 still get one credit. If your earned income is $0 or less, you get the full $1,189 as long as your total net loss and your total wages are each $35,640 or less and your federal AGI is under $32,901.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Young Child Tax Credit?
Up to $1,189 per tax return for tax year 2025, no matter how many young children you have. You get the full amount with earned income of $27,425 or less. Above that it shrinks by $21.71 for every $100 of earned income and ends just before $32,901.
Who qualifies for the Young Child Tax Credit?
You need a qualifying child who is under 6 on the last day of the tax year, and you must qualify for the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC): earned income and federal AGI each less than $32,901, and investment income of $4,814 or less. A valid SSN or ITIN works for you and your child.
Can I get the YCTC with no income?
Yes. If your earned income is $0 or less (for example, a self-employment loss), you can still claim the credit as long as your total net loss and your total wages are each no more than $35,640, your federal AGI is no more than $32,900, and you otherwise meet the CalEITC rules.
How do I claim the Young Child Tax Credit?
File a California tax return and complete form FTB 3514 (California Earned Income Tax Credit), Part VII. Tax software does this when you enter your child's information. The credit is refundable, so you get it back even if you owe no tax. You can also claim it for earlier years by filing or amending those returns.
Is the YCTC the same as the federal Child Tax Credit?
No. The YCTC is a California credit claimed on your state return. The federal Child Tax Credit is separate and claimed on your federal return. You can get both.
This tool provides an educational estimate only. The Franchise Tax Board decides eligibility; the CalEITC qualifying-child, residency and filing-status rules on form FTB 3514 all apply. Figures are for tax year 2025.