Child Tax credit line showing $0 Why?

[Icemanrec1]

The Child tax credit line is showing $0 dollars compared to last year which showed $4000. We did receive child tax advanced payments in the amount of $2577.00 which would have been half and then the other half would be filed for taxes this year. On the Additional Child Tax credit line below the Child tax credit line , it shows $2572.00.  Can you advise as to if I'm getting the rest of my child tax credit and why is the amount owed is not going down ?  or why does the program not show the the other have of the child tax credit ?

[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.  If you owe taxes then that is reported on Line 37.

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 TurboTax desktop editions click on Forms.  When in Forms mode open the Form 1040 on the left side of the screen.

[Icemanrec1]

So the Additional Child tax credit line  in turbo tax shows how much we received in 2021 for advanced payments. Why is turbo tax not showing the total credit amount given in the program? Which in turn is over $5148.00 in child tax credit. (So if we received advanced payments in 2021 of $2577, Turbo tax will only give credit for the other half which reflects on Additional child tax credit line? Then that leaves the child tax credit line blank with $0 dollars. Does that sound correct ?

[DMarkM1]

Yes, you are correct.  For tax year 2021, the non-refundable child tax credit line 19 on your 1040 should be zero since you qualified for the child tax credit and indicated you resided in the US for at least 6 months in 2021 which makes the credit refundable.  

That refundable credit now shows on line 28 "Refundable Child Tax Credit or additional child tax credit."  A refundable credit means you get that credit whether or not you had a tax liability on line 18.  

For 2020 and earlier years (and for taxpayers who did not reside in the US for at least 6 mos in 2021) the child tax credit was non-refundable meaning it was limited by the tax liability on line 18.  If a taxpayer's non-refundable credit was limited by the tax liablity, then the unused credit up to $1400 would be added to line 28 as a refundable additional child tax credit.     

You are also correct that the amount on line 28 should be the amount of child tax credit you qualify for minus the advanced child tax credit amount you already received.

[DoninGA]

@Icemanrec1 For tax year 2021 the nonrefundable child tax credit on the Form 1040 Line 19 is not used for the Child Tax Credit.

The advance child tax credits received in 2021 are on the Schedule 8812 on Line 14f with the amount of the child tax credit on Line 14i which flows to the Form 1040 Line 28.