My son turned 17 in 2021, so why isn't he qualified for the 2021 CTC?

[ecsarts42]

He was born in 2004. We are well under the income limit. He lived with us in the US all year long, and we received the advanced payments, but Turbotax says he doesn't qualify as a dependent, or for the Child Tax Credit (though they did at least acknowledge that we won't have to repay the advance, because we qualify for the repayment protection)?

The IRS says otherwise according to their Interactive Tax Assistant. They say he's a "qualifying person for the Child Tax Credit purposes."

What is going on? Add to this that we supposedly don't qualify for the EITC, even though we're below that income threshold, makes me think this edition of Turbotax is glitchy or plain ol' wrong.

[xmasbaby0]

We cannot see your return.   So this is a guess.    Did you perhaps enter an incorrect answer pertaining to your son's Social Security number/card?   We have seen that happen a few times.  Go back and see if you said he did not have a SS number valid for employment.

Q B9. What is meant by a Social Security number (SSN) that is valid for employment? (added January 3...

A9. For qualifying children, the SSN must be valid for employment in the United States.

• If an individual was a U.S. citizen when he or she received the SSN, then it is valid for employment in the United States.
• If “Not Valid for Employment” is printed on the individual’s Social Security card and the individual’s immigration status has changed so that he or she is now a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, ask the SSA for a new Social Security card.
• If “Valid for Work Only With DHS Authorization” is printed on the individual’s Social Security card, the individual has an SSN valid for employment only as long as the Department of Homeland Security authorization is valid.

[ecsarts42]

I answered everything correctly. I did look at the in-return explanation of the child tax credit, and they have not updated the age limit to 18, or the credit size, for the 2021 tax year.

"The Child Tax Credit is a tax break that can benefit people with children under the age of 17. You can get up to $2,000 for each child you claim. That's money in your pocket."

[xmasbaby0]

You are posting from the CD/download.   Have you updated your software?   

[ecsarts42]

I downloaded from their site rather than use the CD. And, yeah, it just updated, and it's still got the same wrong information. 😕

[xmasbaby0 · Accepted solution]

You should be getting the CTC for a child younger than 18.

Contact customer support for help with this.

To call TurboTax customer support

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1899263-what-is-the-turbotax-phone-number

Customer support is available from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Pacific time daily

[ecsarts42]

Thank you.