Advance Child Tax Credit 2021

[DM626]

My child has their own social security number and lived with me for half a year but because my child will turn 18 in December 2021,  I did not receive the child tax credit on my 2020 tax return.  Nor did I receive any advanced payments in 2021, because my child did not qualify. 

My income will be within the requirements and my qualifying child will meet the other requirements in 2021:

• Does not turn 18 before January 1, 2022
• Individual is a taxpayer child
• Individual does not provide more than 1/2 of own support.
• Individual lives with taxpay more than 1/2 tax year during 2021
• Individual is claimed as dependent.
• Individual does not file joint return.
• Individual is a U.S. citizen. 

Please clarify, although I was ineligible for the child tax credit on my 2020 tax return, given I meet the requirements above, I believe I will be eligible for the child tax credit on my 2021 return.  Is there a way to confirm eligibility? Second, is there a way to calculate what my Child Tax Credit will be for my 2021 tax return, when I file in 2022 tax filing season? 

I used the below links to check eligibility and calculations:

https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/2021-child-tax-credit-and-advance-child-tax-credit-payments-t...

https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/2021-child-tax-credit-and-advance-child-tax-credit-payments-t...

[GeorgeDenseff]

Turning 18 in December means she does not meet the first requirement.

[xmasbaby0]

Under the rules for the child tax credit on a 2020 tax return, you do not get the CTC for a child who turned 17 before the end of 2020 so that is why you could not get the credit for your 2020 return.   Under the rules for your 2021 tax return, you only get the CTC if your child is UNDER the age of 18 at the end of 2021.   You say your child will turn 18 in 2021.   You do not get the the CTC.

[xmasbaby0]

You will still be able to claim your child as a dependent for 2021, but you will get the $500 credit for other dependents, not the child tax credit.   And.....if your child becomes a full-time student going forward you can continue to claim the child as a qualifying child dependent until the tax year when the child turns 24

CREDIT FOR OTHER DEPENDENTS

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/4499708-what-is-the-500-credit-for-other-dependents-family-tax-cre...

[xmasbaby0]

WHO CAN I CLAIM AS A DEPENDENT?

You can claim a child, relative, friend, or fiancé (etc.) as a dependent on your 2020 taxes as long as they meet the following requirements:

Qualifying child

• They're related to you.
• They aren't claimed as a dependent by someone else.
• They're a U.S. citizen, resident alien, national, or a Canadian or Mexican resident.
• They aren’t filing a joint return with their spouse.
• They're under the age of 19 (or 24 for full-time students).
• No age limit for permanently and totally disabled children.
• They lived with you for more than half the year (exceptions apply).
• They didn't provide more than half of their own support for the year.

Qualifying relative

• They don't have to be related to you (despite the name).
• They aren't claimed as a dependent by someone else.
• They're a U.S. citizen, resident alien, national, or a Canadian or Mexican resident.
• They aren’t filing a joint return with their spouse.
• They lived with you the entire year (exceptions apply).
• They made less than $4,300 in 2020.
• You provided more than half of their financial support.

When you add someone as a dependent, we'll ask a series of questions to make sure you can claim them. There may be other tax benefits you can get when you claim a dependent.

Related Information:

• What does "financially support another person" mean?
• What is a "qualifying person" for Head of Household?
• Does a dependent for 2020 have to live with me?
• Do I qualify for Head of Household in 2020?
• Can I claim myself or my spouse as a dependent?