topic Child Tax Credit in Deductions & credits

Child Tax Credit

Sam613613 — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 07:08:03 GMT

I live in a foreign country and I don't have to pay US taxes since I pay taxes in the foreign country. I was under the impression that even though I don't pay taxes I still should get money for each dependent listed on my tax return. But TurboTax says I'm not eligible.

Can anyone explain why?
Do I have to live in the US for half a year to get the money?

Re: Child Tax Credit

xmasbaby0 — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 15:07:30 GMT

From the IRS

https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021

Who is Eligible

To be eligible for advance payments of the Child Tax Credit, you (and your spouse, if married filing jointly) must have:

Filed a 2019 or 2020 tax return and claimed the Child Tax Credit on the return or
Entered your information in 2020 to get stimulus (Economic Impact) payments with the Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here tool or
Given us your information in 2021 with the Non-Filer: Submit Your Information tool

And you (and your spouse, if married filing jointly) must also have:

Lived in a main home in the United States for more than half the year (the 50 states and the District of Columbia) or filed a joint return with a spouse who has a main home in the United States for more than half the year; and
A qualifying child who is under age 18 at the end of 2021 and who has a valid Social Security number; and
Made less than certain income limits.

Re: Child Tax Credit

NCperson — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 15:39:04 GMT

@Sam613613 - in 2021, the child tax credit (the $3600 / $3000) is as xmasbaby0 explains. So since you and the children did not live in the US for at least 6 months , you are not eligble for that.

but the 'old rules' (pre-2021) were still in effect for those not eligible for the 2021 version noted above (and those pre-2021 rules are back in effect for 2022). But they are non-refundable credits, meaning if you did not have a tax liability, there is no child credit (the $2,000) under these rules either

Re: Child Tax Credit

TomD8 — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 16:21:20 GMT

@Sam613613 wrote: "I live in a foreign country and I don't have to pay US taxes since I pay taxes in the foreign country."

Wrong. If you're a U.S. citizen, the foreign tax credit may reduce your U.S. tax liability, but the fact that you live abroad does not in itself relieve you of the obligation to file a U.S. tax return nor to pay U.S. income tax.

Re: Child Tax Credit

xmasbaby0 — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 16:58:20 GMT

@Sam613613

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/tax-credits-deductions/u-taxpayers-living-working-abroad-report-income/L9Z8nMDvQ_US_en_US?uid=la9vwqze

Re: Child Tax Credit

Sam613613 — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 17:09:23 GMT

Thanks

Re: Child Tax Credit

Sam613613 — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 17:15:37 GMT

I spoke to an accountant. He said that if I want to get money back for dependants, I have to use the Foreign Tax Credit (FTC) and not use the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE).
And thanks xmasbaby0 for the link that explains it:

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/tax-credits-deductions/u-taxpayers-living-working-abroad-report-income/L9Z8nMDvQ_US_en_US?uid=la9vwqze