@Opus 17 yes, I do acknowledge your example related to unearned income., but I stick to my statement that the wording may not be on point:
<< To get any credit at all, you must at least owe some tax.>>
this is not true.
you can get credit without owing at least some tax! someone earning $10,000 owes no tax but does get a credit!!
if Line 18 is zero ("you owe no tax"), you can still get a credit by having at least one child under the age of 17 and have earned income that exceeds $2500.
