Should I file amended return if I didn't receive the CTC for my daughter? I opted out and got the lump sum for my son but I don't understand why she wouldn't qualify

[shaiannsnoww]

my son will be 5 in April, daughter just turned 2 in February and I should have received the advanced ctc payments for both of them. I opted out of the payments before I could add a dependent, but I'm very confused as to why it didn't pick it up... she has a valid social security number, birth certificate, etc. Thank you in advance

[DoninGA]

If you answered the questions in the My Info section when entering your daughter as a dependent then the Child Tax Credit would be entered on your federal tax return for her.  For two children under the age 6 in 2021 you will be eligible for a Child Tax Credit of $7,200 minus any advance child tax credit you received in 2021.

Did you complete the section for the child tax credit?

To enter, edit or delete the advance child tax credit

• Click on Federal Taxes
• Click on Deductions & Credits
• Click on I'll choose what I work on (if shown)
• Under You and Your Family
• On Child and Other Dependent Tax Credit, click on the start or update button

Or enter child tax credit in the Search box located in the upper right of the program screen. Click on Jump to child credit

The Child Tax Credit is entered on your federal tax return Form 1040 on Line 28. It is added to your other tax payments, it is not a separate refund. Your Total taxes from Line 24 are subtracted from your Total tax payments on Line 33. If you have an overpayment then that is entered on Line 34 as your federal tax refund.

You can view your Form 1040 at any time using the online editions. Click on Tax Tools on the left side of the online program screen. Click on Tools. Click on View Tax Summary. Click on Preview my 1040 on the left side of the screen.

[xmasbaby0]

Do you mean you already e-filed a 2021 return and you think you did not get the CTC for the children?

What do you see on line 28 of your 2021 Form 1040?

Or are you still working on preparing your 2021 return?   Make sure both children are entered correctly as dependents.

Make sure you have entered your child as a dependent in My Info, and that you have entered the child's Social Security number. If your child was born in 2021make sure you said he lived with you the whole year.  There is an oddly worded question that asks if the child paid over half their own support.  Say NO to that question.

Federal>Deductions and Credits>You and Your Family>Child Tax Credit

The IRS is sending out letter 6419 to you.  It will show the amount of advance child tax credit that you received during 2021.  Enter the information from that letter carefully.   

The remaining amount of CTC that you can receive will show up on line 28 of your 2021 Form 1040.   Then it will calculate down to the refund you see on line 35a or the tax due on line 37.

PREVIEW 1040

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901539-how-do-i-preview-my-turbotax-online-return-before-filing

Click on Tax Tools on the left side of the screen. Click on Tools. Click on View Tax Summary. Click on Preview my 1040 on the left side of the screen.

NOTE:   The CTC is indeed a “credit” that can be applied toward any tax liability that you would otherwise have to pay as “tax due”  to the IRS.

[Cynthiad66]

@shaiannsnoww - You can always amend if necessary but be sure that you need to amend.  Warning!  The IRS usually make these types of corrections automatically based on information they have on file already.  So wait until your return has been processed before you file an amended.  To file an amended before that will cause additional delays.

From your description, it sounds like you did not receive Advanced Child Tax payments for your daughter and that you filed and still did not receive the correct amount of Child Tax Credits for your daughter. 

This does not sound like the dependent is properly entered on the tax return because TurboTax will automatically prompt you to questions that would calculate the allowable credit.  

However, since you have filed already, allow that return to process and you receive your refunds etc before amending.  There is a good chance that IRS will catch the error and make the corrections and issue you the correct refund without requiring you to amend.  If at that time you are still required to amend.  Follow the steps below.

o amend a prior-year return, select its tax year below for specific instructions. (Note: the option to amend a 2021 tax return will become available later in the tax season.)

• 2020
• 2019
• 2018

Wait until you receive your refund to amend. If you owe, you can amend e-filed returns if they've been accepted and paper-filed returns after they've been mailed.

Once you begin the amendment process, you'll see your original return. Only make changes to the areas of your return that need amending. The refund calculator will start new at $0 and only reflect the changes in the refund (or tax due).

You have three years from the date you filed your return or two years after you paid the tax due (whichever is later) to file an amendment.

Use this link for information on Advanced Child Tax Payments:  Advanced Child Tax Payments