If I am 17 with a child, will I get my child tax credit for my baby?

[hmeyer101]

I had a baby when I was 16, no one claimed her last tax year. However I wanted to claim her this year. Will I get the child tax credit FOR HER  since I'm under 18?

[Phillip1]

That depends on whether you are a dependent of your parents. If your parents can claim you as a dependent, you will not be able to claim your baby as a dependent.

Your parents will not be able to claim you as a qualifying child dependent if the following applies:

1. You provide more than half of your own support. To determine whether you have provided more than half of your own support, I recommend that you fill out Worksheet 2 on page 16 of IRS publication 501. 

If your parents are claiming you as a dependent, they may be able to claim your child as a dependent as well and claim the child tax credit on their return.

[hmeyer101]

They can claim me, but they are not this year. So, when I filed, would I get the child tax as long as they don't claim me as a dependent?

[Phillip1]

If that is the case, you do not qualify to claim your child as a dependent or claim the child tax credit. If you claim your child as a dependent and claim the credit, you would risk having the IRS audit your return and having to return any child related tax benefits with extra penalties and interest. Unfortunately, if you qualify as a dependent, you do not qualify to claim dependents even if you are not actually claimed as a dependent. You parents should probably just claim you and your child as dependents.

[SweetieJean]

and Parents can amend 2016 to claim both of you as well.