topic I meet all the criteria for the Child Tax Credit of up to $2,000 for each child under 17 years old but it says I don't qualify... why? in Deductions & credits

I meet all the criteria for the Child Tax Credit of up to $2,000 for each child under 17 years old but it says I don't qualify... why?

teelicious11351 — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 10:36:22 GMT

Re: I meet all the criteria for the Child Tax Credit of up to $2,000 for each child under 17 years old but it says I don't qualify... why?

xmasbaby0 — Sat, 21 Jan 2023 00:15:18 GMT

All of the criteria including having income from working?

Make sure you have entered your child as a dependent in My Info, and that you have entered the child's Social Security number. Careful— do not say that your child’s SSN is not valid for employment. If your child was born in 2022 make sure you said he lived with you the whole year. There is an oddly worded question that asks if the child paid over half their own support. Say NO to that question.

The rules for getting the child tax credit on a 2021 tax return and now on a 2022 return are very different. For 2021 you could get $3600 for a child under 6 or $3000 for a child between 6 and 17 even if you had no income/did not work. That is NOT the way it will work for your 2022 tax return. The “old” rules are back. The maximum amount of the child tax credit is now $2000; the refundable “additional child tax credit” amount is $1500. In order to get that credit, you have to have income from working. The credit is calculated based on the amount you earned above $2500 multiplied by 15%, up to the full $1500. If your child is older than 16 at the end of 2022, you do not get the CTC. But you may still get the non-refundable $500 credit for other dependents instead.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1900923-what-is-the-child-tax-credit

https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/does-my-childdependent-qualify-for-the-child-tax-credit-or-the-credit-for-other-dependents

Look at your 2022 Form 1040 to see the child-related credits you received

PREVIEW 1040

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901539-how-do-i-preview-my-turbotax-online-return-before-filing

Child Tax Credit line 19

Credit for Other Dependents line 19

Earned Income Credit line 27

Additional Child Tax Credit line 28

Re: I meet all the criteria for the Child Tax Credit of up to $2,000 for each child under 17 year...

DawnC — Sat, 21 Jan 2023 06:02:42 GMT

Here are the things to double check when claiming the Child Tax Credit. To qualify for the Child Tax Credit, the child must:

Be related to you - check the relationship status you chose in TurboTax
Have a Social Security number - make sure the number is entered and the box about only being valid for employment is not checked
Be younger than 17 - this means 16 years old or younger as of 12/31/22
Be a US resident - make sure the box is checked

There are also income limits, see this link to make sure your income is not too high. In 2022, the tax credit will be refundable only up to $1,500, depending on your income. You must have earned income of at least $2,500 to be eligible for the refundable part of the credit. So, make sure your income is entered into TurboTax. If you have not done your W-2s yet, you won't qualify.