If your child can be claimed as a dependent on your tax return, they cannot claim their own exemption. This is true even if you chose not to claim your child as a dependent on your own tax return. Can I still claim the Child Tax Credit? Each dependent child under the age of 17 can qualify you for the $1,000 per child tax credit. The credit is available to you even if your child is working and paying taxes on their income. Unfortunately, the year your child turns 17 the tax credit is no longer available.