If you recently had or adopted your first child, filing your taxes probably was not a top priority. But even if you're sleep-deprived and haven't left your home in months, you still had to find the time to prepare a return for 2023.

With a new child, your taxes will get more complicated. But the flip side is, you may qualify for a slew of new tax credits and deductions.

Here's what new parents need to know for the 2024 tax season and beyond:

Get a Social Security card for your child

The first order of business is to make sure your child has a Social Security number, said John Karls, a tax partner at Armanino, a national tax advisory firm. "You can't claim your child as a dependent on your tax return if they don't have a Social Security number."

If you don't already have one for your child, you should apply now. But it could take a while for the Social Security Administration to verify your child's birth certificate and identity, so Karls recommends filing for a six-month tax extension while you wait.

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Head of household status

If you're a single parent, for tax purposes you're considered the head of the household. That means you could claim a $20,800 standard deduction in 2023, versus a $13,850 standard deduction for single filers without dependents. In 2024, those deductions rise to $21,900 and $14,600.

There are also separate, more favorable tax brackets for heads of households.

Importantly, the IRS won't automatically recognize that you're a single parent and thereby qualify for head-of-household status. You'll have to manually check a box yourself, or inform your tax preparer.

If you're married and cover more than half of your child's expenses, you would also be considered a head of household, but only if you file separately from your spouse.

How much do you get back in taxes for a child?

Generally, people think having a child will automatically lower their tax bill or trigger a larger refund. But in many cases, it depends on your income. Lower-income taxpayers are generally eligible for more generous tax credits and deductions after having or adopting a child, said Jim Daniels, a CPA and managing director at UHY Advisors, a tax and consulting services firm.

Adoption tax credit

If you adopted a child in 2023, you might have been able to qualify for a credit of up to $15,950 in adoption-related expenses you incurred per child. This could include adoption-related attorney fees, adoption fees, traveling expenses and more. The credit increased to $16,810 in 2024.