topic I didn't work but how do I claim my children for the child tax credit on taxes in Deductions & credits

I didn't work but how do I claim my children for the child tax credit on taxes

heidisherry784-g — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 03:26:03 GMT

How do I get to the child tax credit form

Re: I didn't work but how do I claim my children for the child tax credit on taxes

MayaD — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 22:10:35 GMT

You can't get the credit if you didn't work. In 2023, the tax credit will be refundable only up to $1,600, depending on your income. You must have earned income of at least $2,500 to be eligible for the refund.

irs.gov

Re: I didn't work but how do I claim my children for the child tax credit on taxes

Hal_Al — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 23:05:50 GMT

The child tax credit (CTC) is limited to your tax liability. The CTC is a non-refundable credit and can only reduce your income tax to 0, It can not help you beyond eliminating your tax liability.

But, if you have more than $2500 of earned income, some or all of it is usually given back to you thru the "Additional Child tax credit". That is, part of the CTC may be on line 28 of form 1040 (2021- 2023) instead of line 19. The ACTC is calculated on form 8812 and is basically 15% of your earned income over $2500. The ACTC is a maximum of $1600 (2023) ($1500 for 2022) per child, not $2000.