Can I file taxes when I didn't have a job but I have a child?

[MargaretL]

It will not benefit you to file unless you are a student and are claiming education expenses.  If you have no income, you are not required to file, as there is zero tax. Also, there is no refund coming, regardless if you claim a child or not.  

Note: The only time you can file with no income is to claim education credit caled American Opportunity Credit if you otherwise qualify. 

[Drewsloop]

What about this?

https://www.sapling.com/12010706/can-file-taxes-just-claim-kids-didnt-work

[Hal_Al]

@Drewsloop  - That links says the same thing. They just take forever to tell you you won't get anything.

The money you hear about people getting for just filing a tax return claiming kids requires them to  have some earned income (wages or self employment). Without earned income, they are not eligible for the "refundable" Earned Income Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit.  Both credits are calculated on the amount of earned income you have. No earned income means no "refund". A small amount of earned income means a small refund. The child tax credit does not "kick in" unless you have at least $2500 of earned income.

A child can be the “qualifying child” dependent of any close relative in the household. If you live with someone else, e.g. your parents, it may be better if they claim your child.

Instead, you could allow the non-custodial parent to claim the children.  Non-custodial parents are allowed to claim the child tax credit, but not the Earned income credit.

If you are a student, over age 23, and are not claimed as a dependent by someone else (e.g. your parent) you may be eligible for the up to $1000 refundable American Opportunity (tuition) Credit. That credit is not dependent on having either kids or earned income. You must be at least a half time undergraduate student and actually paid tuition (not just had it paid by grants). Tuition paid by loans counts as paid by you (since you have to pay that back, someday)

[achamp14]

I was informed that in the state of Iowa if a single mother (one that claims single/head of household) can provide proof of her actively seeking employment, she can still claim the child tax credit..??

[xmasbaby0]

The short answer is that if you did not work in 2022, you will not receive an income tax refund based on having dependent children.

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-f...

And for the Earned Income Credit—-the rules are back to the “old” rules—

Those under 25 and over 65 without children are not eligible as they were uniquely in 2021.   And you cannot use your income from any earlier tax year to get the EIC for a 2022 return.  There is no “lookback” for 2022.  EIC for 2022 will be based on the income you earned by working in 2022.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1899157-what-are-the-qualifications-for-the-earned-income-credit-e...

https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit/use-the-eitc-assistant

[Hal_Al]

Q. I was informed that in the state of Iowa if a single mother (one that claims single/head of household) can provide proof of her actively seeking employment, she can still claim the child tax credit (CTC)?

A. That only applies to the state Tax credits.  Being in IA does not qualify you for federal CTC (or any other federal tax benefit) that no one gets in other states.  

It's actually not the CTC, but the DCC (Dependent Care Credit) that you probably heard about. 

See https://www.taxcreditsforworkersandfamilies.org/state/iowa/#:~:text=CHILD%20AND%20DEPENDENT%20CARE%2....

I'm not from Iowa and am not specifically familiar with IA tax rules. Since you have tagged on to an existing thread, only a limited number of users will see your question.  For more opinions, you should post your question on a new thread.