What distinguishes a nonrefundable credit from a refundable credit?

A nonrefundable credit is one that allows a taxpayer to reduce their tax liability to zero, but it cannot result in a refund if the credit exceeds the amount of tax owed. This means that if a taxpayer qualifies for a nonrefundable credit that is higher than their tax liability, they do not receive a refund for the difference; instead, any remaining credit is essentially lost.

In contrast, a refundable credit can reduce a taxpayer’s liability below zero, resulting in a refund of the excess amount. Thus, the key distinction lies in the ability of the credit to provide a refund based on how it interacts with the total tax owed; nonrefundable credits are limited to the amount of tax due and do not provide any additional financial benefit beyond that threshold.

The other options present characteristics that do not specifically define the fundamental difference between refundable and nonrefundable credits, thus affirming why the definition of a nonrefundable credit centers around its inability to generate refunds beyond the tax owed.