@tccutler wrote:
Hi - Thank you for the tips.
I always e-File. Looking back at my saved TurboTax files, my 2 youngest have X marks on "Qualifying Child for Child Tax Credit" for last two years. Going back another year, my 3rd child has the X mark. I'll have to grab my 2017 PDF\backup and look through it. However, considering that I import the prior year's info, it's very likely this issue has been going on for awhile.
Looking through my records, I don't appear to have form 8812. Weird.
I read about the requirements at https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/family/what-is-the-irs-form-8812/L1HbgYQqE and nothing stood out as to why I wouldn't have a form 8812.
I've got more investigation to do once I get to my system with TurboTax loaded on it.
You would only have form 8812 if you were claiming the "additional child tax credit."
First, the child tax credit is available for "qualifying child" dependents age 16 and under. If you have a qualifying child dependent who is younger than 16 but that box is not checked, then something else is wrong. Once the child turns 16 at any time during the year, they aren't eligible for that credit any longer, although they are still dependents for other tax purposes.
(Remember, certain dependents, such as relatives more distant than niece or nephew, or children who live with you but are not relatives and were not placed by a state licensed foster program, don't qualify you for the child tax credit or for the stimulus/rebate. That may also be an issue.)
The Additional Child Tax Credit is figured if your tax bill is less than your regular child tax credit. For example, if you had 3 children under age 16, your CTC eligibility is $6000. If your tax is $5000, then your maximum CTC is $5000, even though your eligibility is $6000. The additional child tax credit uses form 8812 to figure out if you are eligible for any of that last $1000 to be added to your refund. If your tax was more than your CTC, then form 8812 won't be needed or created.
