Do I have to have income to get money back from having 2 kids? It says yes. But I thought I didn't need an income to get money for my kids.

The option to receive the Child Tax Credit without having any income was only for tax year 2021.

For tax year 2023 you must have earned income from work to be eligible for the Child Tax Credit.

The 2021 child-related credits were very generous.  Lots of people are still being taken by surprise when they find out the credits for 2022 and 2023  are lower than they were for 2021.

 

The tax laws changed for child-related credits and are much less generous for 2022 and 2023.

 

Have you entered income from working in 2023?  If not,  you will not receive an income tax refund based on having dependent children.

 

AND….If you have children but had  little or no income, it raises the question of how you and the children were supported.  There may be another tax-paying adult who can claim you and/or the children as dependents.