Can i claim a child tax credit?

[MollsBBU]

duplicate

[MollsBBU · Accepted solution]

Maybe. This credit, not to be confused with the Child and Dependent Care Credit, is in addition to the $4,050 exemption you get for each dependent. However, not every child qualifies.

To qualify for the Child Tax Credit in 2017, your child must fill all of these requirements:

• Be born on or after January 1, 2001
• Be your son, daughter, stepchild, foster child, adopted child, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, half-brother, half-sister, or a descendant of any of them (for example, a grandchild or niece/nephew)
• Have their own Social Security or Individual Tax Identification number (ITIN)
• Have lived with you for more than half the year
• Not pay more than half their own expenses
• Be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or U.S. resident alien (being a resident of Canada or Mexico does not qualify)

Just remember: Once your income reaches the amounts below, your credit starts being reduced down to zero. Here are the income limits:

• Married filing jointly: $110,000
• Married filing separately: $55,000
• Single, head of household: $75,000

When you reach the Deductions & Credits section in TurboTax, we’ll not only determine if your children are eligible for the Child Tax Credit, we’ll figure out the amount they qualify for.

[ahmedmoten]

Thanks. It worked. I have filed my 2017 return already. How do i file the 2017 amended return?

[MollsBBU]

Glad to hear that helped. 2017 amendment instructions can be found here when the form has been updated: <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1894381-how-to-amend-change-or-correct-a-return-you-already-filed"...>

[ahmedmoten]

I meet all the conditions above yet TurboTax did not allow me to take that credit why?

[MollsBBU]

Revisit your dependent(s)'s interview by doing the following:
1. Sign in to TurboTax
2. Click the blue Take me to my return button
3. In the black menu bar to the left, click on My Info
If you see Your personal info or any other interview screens, review your answers and click Continue at the bottom of each
4. You should see your Personal info summary
5. Below your filing status, you will see each dependent listed. Click the Edit button to go back through your answers.

Pay special attention to the "Did [dependent name] pay over half of their living expenses?" question as this can make or break qualifying for this tax credit.

Then, preview your 1040 to check for any amount of this credit you are receiving by doing the following:
1. Click Tax Tools from the black menu to the left
2. Then, select Tools
To see the Tools option here, you must have moved past the orange "Take me to my return" button and you must be using a web browser (the mobile app will not show you the Tools feature)
3. Once in the tool center, click on View Tax Summary
This will show your basic tax calculations.
4. Then, in the black menu to the left, click on Preview my 1040 to view your form

On Form 1040, check line 52.
On Form 1040A, check line 35.