topic Does my child still qualify for the child tax credit if I have no income? in Deductions & credits

Does my child still qualify for the child tax credit if I have no income?

andreadc44 — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 10:00:23 GMT

Re: Does my child still qualify for the child tax credit if I have no income?

VolvoGirl — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 02:25:13 GMT

Sorry no. The child tax credit rules for 2021 tax returns were unique to tax year 2021; you could receive the CTC even if you did not have any income earned from working.

That will not be the case for tax year 2022 and 2023. The rules revert back to the requirement to have income earned from working in order to receive the refundable part of the CTC. If you do not have at least $2500 of income from working you will not get the CTC or the additional child tax credit. And the age cutoff went back to under 17 (not 18).

And...without income earned from working you are not eligible for any other child-related credits like earned income credit or the childcare credit.

Re: Does my child still qualify for the child tax credit if I have no income?

BillM223 — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 02:25:26 GMT

You must be able to claim the child as a dependent; however, not having any income makes that unlikely.

Look at "Who Qualifies?" at the IRS website.

Then take a look at the IRS Interactive Tax Assistant and look for yourself.

Re: Does my child still qualify for the child tax credit if I have no income?

xmasbaby0 — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 06:13:38 GMT

Without income from working, you are not eligible for any child-related credits. You said you had "no income." How were you and your children supported?

.If you have children but had little or no income, it raises the question of how you and the children were supported. There may be another tax-paying adult who can claim you and/or the children as dependents.