A 2021 tax return is the only tax return on which you can get child tax credit or the recovery rebate credit. If your BF did not file a 2021 tax return that claimed your children then you can file a 2021 tax return and claim them in order to get those credits. If you have not worked in calendar year 2022, then filing a 2022 tax return next year will not help you. You will not get any sort of tax refund for tax year 2022. A 2022 tax return would be filed in early 2023. It is not clear what "estimator" you used or when you used it. If you did not work in 2022, you cannot get a tax refund for 2022 by filing a 2022 return in 2023.
If you need to file a 2021 tax return, do so before e-filing closes on October 17, or you will have to print, sign and mail your return---and it is taking the IRS six to nine months to send refunds for mailed returns.
**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**
