SSN Required Before the Due Date of Your Return To Claim the CTC and ACTC

If you, and your spouse if filing jointly, do not have a valid SSN , you can’t claim the CTC or ACTC on either your original or an amended 2025 return. If you are filing a joint return, only one spouse is required to have a valid SSN to be eligible for the CTC or ACTC. The other spouse must have either an SSN or ITIN, and it must have been issued on or before the due date of the return.

Valid SSN.

For the CTC and ACTC, a valid SSN is one that is valid for employment and that is issued by the Social Security Administration before the due date of your 2025 return (including extensions).

Qualifying child required to have an SSN.

If you have a qualifying child who does not have a valid SSN , you can’t use the child to claim the CTC or ACTC on either your original or an amended 2025 return. See Valid SSN , earlier.

If your qualifying child does not have a valid SSN, but has another type of taxpayer identification number issued on or before the due date of your 2025 return (including extensions), you may be able to claim the ODC for that child. See Credit for Other Dependents (ODC) , later.