What does the Child Tax Credit aim to provide?

The Child Tax Credit is specifically designed to provide financial relief to families with qualifying dependents under the age of 17. This credit helps to reduce a family's overall tax liability, thereby easing the financial burden of raising children.

The rationale behind focusing on children under 17 is to assist families during the years when they are more directly responsible for the everyday expenses of raising children, such as education, healthcare, and basic living costs. By giving parents a tax credit for each qualifying child, the government aims to provide monetary support that can help with these expenses, ultimately promoting the well-being of children in the household.

While assistance for low-income families is a component of how the credit can function through refundable credits, the core focus of the Child Tax Credit specifically targets families with dependent children under the age limit, distinguishing it from assistance programs that might cater to broader demographics or situations. Other choices are not aligned with the primary objective of the Child Tax Credit, making the correct answer distinctly focused on the appropriate age group of dependents that benefit from the credit.