In years past, we qualified for the Child Tax Credit (our children are 3 and 6). This year our children are being described as Other Dependents. Can someone explain?

[alexmarie4372]

This is a difference of a $4000.00 credit versus $1000.00 credit. What would have caused this change?

[DoninGA]

You answered a question wrong when entering the children as dependents.

Make sure you indicated that they lived with you for the whole year.  That you provided over one-half of their support.  That there was no one else in the household providing support.  That you did NOT check the box "not valid for employment" when entering the Social Security number.

[xmasbaby0]

You may have entered something incorrectly foR them in MY INFO.

Make sure you have entered your child as a dependent in My Info, and that you have entered the child's Social Security number.    Careful— do not say that your child’s SSN is not valid for employment.  If your child was born in 2024 make sure you said he lived with you the whole year.  There is an oddly worded question that asks if the child paid over half their own support.  Say NO to that question.

[Vanessa A]

If nothing has changed, please go back and review ALL of your answers in the each dependents info section.  Did you select that they provided more than half of their own income.  Many people misread this question, and the answer should be No, if you supported them. 

In order for the children to qualify for the Child Tax Credit, according to the IRS, the following m...

• Be under 17 at the end of the tax year.
• Be your son, daughter, stepchild, eligible foster child, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, half-brother, half-sister, or a descendant of one of these (for example, a grandchild, niece or nephew).
• Not provide more than half of his or her own support for the tax year.
• Have lived with you for more than half the tax year.
• Be claimed as a dependent on your return.
• Not file a joint return for the year (or filed the joint return only to claim a refund of taxes withheld or estimated taxes).
• Be a U.S. citizen, U.S. National or a U.S. resident alien.
• Must have a Social Security Number that is valid for employment and is issued before the due date of your tax return (including extensions).