Didn’t get second half of Child Tax Credit but TT says amount is correct.

[Bauert988]

We received advanced payments totaling $4800. The full credit we could claim was supposed to be $9600. When I filed our taxes we received none of the second half of the credit. Am I missing something? I thought we were meant to get the other half, everything on turbo tax is correct but it’s still saying we aren’t owed any more. 

[DoninGA]

The Child Tax Credit is entered on your federal tax return Form 1040 on Line 28. It is added to your other tax payments, it is not a separate refund. Your Total taxes from Line 24 are subtracted from your Total tax payments on Line 33. If you have an overpayment then that is entered on Line 34 as your federal tax refund.

You can view your Form 1040 at any time using the online editions. Click on Tax Tools on the left side of the online program screen. Click on Tools. Click on View Tax Summary. Click on Preview my 1040 on the left side of the screen.

If using the desktop editions, click on Forms to view the Form 1040

[Bauert988]

I know it’s not a separate refund. I’m not very good at reading the forms but I had expected more than the $1738 I got for a refund. It says total payments are $7,356 and total tax is $5618 which does equal the $1738 I received. I’m just wondering why that is correct and why I wouldn’t be getting the second half of the $9600 it says I’m entitled to. I shouldn’t have owed anything as I was only claiming one dependent all year and I have three. 

[VolvoGirl]

What is on line 28?  It should be there.  It should be included in the total payments.  Just start at the top of the second page of the 1040 and follow the lines.  Follow the math, adding and subtracting.  

[Bauert988]

Line 28 says 4800. Which is half of my eligible credit.

[VolvoGirl]

Yes that is the remaining half you get in your refund.  So it is included.  So you refund is right.  

It is a problem for people this year because they don't seem to understand why their refund is lower than they expected.  They don't realize they already got part of their refund as the Advance Child Tax Credit.  

[Bauert988]

Okay. I did know that I was getting half of the credit up front. But the whole credit was $9600. I received $4800 of it. So I was told at filing I would get the other $4800 and instead got $1738. That’s why I’m confused. 

[DoninGA]

The Child Tax Credit is entered on your federal tax return Form 1040 on Line 28. It is added to your other tax payments, it is not a separate refund. Your Total taxes from Line 24 are subtracted from your Total tax payments on Line 33. If you have an overpayment then that is entered on Line 34 as your federal tax refund.

You can view your Form 1040 at any time using the online editions. Click on Tax Tools on the left side of the online program screen. Click on Tools. Click on View Tax Summary. Click on Preview my 1040 on the left side of the screen.