Q. How do I not qualify for child tax credit (CTC) if she was 16 for all but a week of dec in 2024? She was 16 till Dec 22, 2024.
A. Mostly because that's the way congress wrote the law. But, remember, you got the full CTC back in 2008, when the child was only with your 9 days. So, everybody gets the CTC the same number of times (17), regardless of birthdate.
Q. Why didn't I get the CTC this year?
A. Your child is too old (over 16). You can still claim your child, as a dependent. What you can't claim is the Child tax credit. This comes as a big surprise to many parents the year their child turns 17. A child over age 16 no longer qualifies for the Child Tax credit (CTC). Although a child can still be a student dependent through age 23, and a qualifying child for the Earned Income Credit, the Child Tax Credit expires the year they turn 17 and you no longer get the $2000 CTC. Instead you will get the non-refundable (up to) $500 Other Dependent Credit.
