To claim a child as a dependent on a tax return they must have a Social Security number.
Make sure you visit your Post legal services, or the closest US consulate/embassy to determine the exact procedure for getting a SS for that child, and get the process started ASAP.
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If the child was born in 2021:
IF you want any deductions/credits for that child, the SSN must be issued before you file your 2021 tax return. File an extension if needed...that would give you until October to get that SSN.
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If the child was born in 2022, then you can't put the child on your 2021 tax return anyhow...not until next year's filing in early 2023.....but get the SSN process started NOW anyhow.
@SteamTrain wrote:
Make sure you visit your Post legal services, or the closest US consulate/embassy to determine the exact procedure for getting a SS for that child, and get the process started ASAP.
_________________
If the child was born in 2021:
IF you want any deductions/credits for that child, the SSN must be issued before you file your 2021 tax return. File an extension if needed...that would give you until October to get that SSN.
__________________________
If the child was born in 2022, then you can't put the child on your 2021 tax return anyhow...not until next year's filing in early 2023.....but get the SSN process started NOW anyhow.
I'm going to put this in bold.
If the child was born in 2021:
If you want any deductions/credits for that child, the SSN must be issued before you file your 2021 tax return. File an extension if needed...that would give you until October to get that SSN.
To be specific, you must file an on-time tax return that contains the child's SSN. On time means filed before April 18, 2022, or filed before June 15, 2022 if you use the automatic overseas extension (this would require you to file by mail), or filed before October 15, 2022 if you get the automatic extension before April 18. If you file your tax return without the SSN, you won’t get any tax benefits for the child even if you go back later and file an amended tax return once you get the SSN.
I assume the SSN has been applied for. In my experience, I had a child born in a military hospital overseas. The SSN application was completed prior to the mother/child leaving the hospital. The SSN was received by us about 3 months later, give or take.
Here's another option. If you have already applied for the SSN, just wait, and if you get it prior to the April 18 filing deadline, you'll be fine.
If you do not receive it before the filing deadline and you want to e-file, go ahead and e-file without claiming the dependent. Then you can file an amended return to claim the dependent when you do receive the SSN card.
If you have not applied for an SSN card for the child yet, then do so ASAP and you very well may get it in time. I would expect there to be a consulate representative in the hospital, or somewhere on the base such as the legal office, which would be your starting point.
With all due respect, your advice is out of date. As a result of the PATH act, the tax credit and other benefits for a child dependent will not be paid unless the taxpayer files a timely-filed tax return with the child’s name and Social Security number. If the taxpayer files a tax return without the child, and then later files an amended return, the tax credits that they claim will not actually be paid.
(Not to mention the fact that the processing time on amended returns is up to 11 months now).