Yes, you are not required to claim your dependents. But you may not have to exclude them.
Household income.
For purposes of the PTC, household income is the modified adjusted gross income (modified AGI) of you and your spouse (if filing a joint return) (see Line 2a, later) plus the modified AGI of each individual whom you claim as a dependent and who is required to file an income tax return because his or her income meets the income tax return filing threshold (see Line 2b, later). Household income does not include the modified AGI of those individuals whom you claim as dependents and who are filing a 2020 return only to claim a refund of withheld income tax or estimated tax.
Form 8962
