Why am I not getting the child tax credit

[xmasbaby0]

@LookingForAnswer The full amount of the child tax credit which can be shown on line 19 is $2000.  Only $1700 of that is refundable--so you cannot get more than $1700 as a refund for the additional child tax credit.  The additional child tax credit is on line 28.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/taxation/child-tax-credit/L2lNhfGDl_US_e...

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/taxation/additional-child-tax-credit/L6x...

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/tax-return/preview-turbotax-online-retur...

Child Tax Credit line 19

Credit for Other Dependents line 19

Earned Income Credit line 27

Additional Child Tax Credit line 28

[Hal_Al]

The  ACTC is calculated on form 8812 and  is basically 15% of your earned income over $2500. The ACTC is a maximum of $1700 (2024) (per child, not $2000).

What's on lines 18, 19 and 28 of form 1040?  If $0 tax on line 18, there will be $0 Child tax credit (CTC) on line 19.  So, you get the maximum $1700 Additional CTC on line 28 (assuming you have enough earned income).

[LookingForAnswer]

I found my answer.

And here I am explaining with examples for others like me who DO NOT understand the technical lingo used by tax professionals. 

There are two things:

1. Child Tax Credit = This is the minimum of two numbers $2000  and  "The federal taxes you owe"

2. Additional Tax Credit = The minimum of two numbers $1700 and ($2000 minus the Child tax credit you receive) 

Example A: 

If my federal tax = $2500.

And I have one dependent child who meets the criteria,

1. Child tax credit that I receive = $2000 

2. Additional Child Tax Credit = 0

Example B:

If my federal tax = $100.

And I have one dependent child who meets the criteria,

1. Child tax credit = $100

2. Additional Child Tax credit = 1700

Hope this helps.