Deductions & credits

The ''Tax Credits'' line on the Tax Summary does not include refundable credits.   The Child Tax Credit is a refundable credit.   You can verify the amount of your CTC by checking Lines 19 and 28 of your Form 1040.   Refundable credits, like the CTC are included with ''Total Payments'' when you view the Tax Summary page.    That line should be your withholding plus any refundable credits.   Non refundable tax credits such as Energy Credits or Education Credits will show up under ''Total Credits''.

For 2021, a child that was 17 on 12/31/21 qualifies for the Child Tax Credit.   In previous years, the child had to be under 17, but for 2021, the child has to be under 18.   Once the child turns 18, they do not qualify for the Child Tax Credit, but they would qualify for the $500 credit for the Other Dependent Credit.     You can look at the dependent section on your Form 1040 to see which credit your children are qualifying for -  See which box is checked in Column 4 - this will tell you what credit you are receiving.   

If something does not look right with your credits, review the Child Tax credit questions again before you file.  You can search for child tax credit and use the Jump to child tax credit at anytime to go there.    And those child related credits have nothing to do with your itemized deductions.   You can itemize or take the standard deduction and that won't depend on the number of dependents you have.   You can itemize with zero or ten dependents.   TurboTax will default to the highest deduction.   

Your refund will not be reduced by the Child Tax Credit - it can only add to your refund, not subtract from it.