Starting 2025: Adoption Credit Gets Refundable Boost Under New Law!

Adopting a child is expensive, but adoptive parents may qualify for a tax break to offset some of the costs. Under the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), the tax break got better for some parents. For 2025, the maximum adoption credit is $17,280 of qualified expenses, with phaseouts for higher-income parents. Under prior law, the credit was nonrefundable, meaning that it was limited to the taxpayer’s federal tax liability. However, under the OBBBA, up to $5,000 of the adoption credit is refundable, starting in 2025. After 2025, the refundable amount will be indexed for inflation. Any nonrefundable amount can be carried forward. There may also be state tax benefits. Questions? Contact us.