
The 2026 Adoption Tax Credit: Form 8839, the Refundable $5,120, and the Five-Year Carryforward
For 2026, the federal Adoption Tax Credit is worth up to $17,670 per child, with $5,120 now refundable. A field guide to Form 8839, qualified expenses, the special-needs rule, failed adoptions, the MAGI phase-out, and the five-year carryforward.










