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Level 1
posted Feb 4, 2022 5:59:51 PM

US Principle Abode

I see a new question never asked before us principle abode. What does this mean I need to answer yes or no

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1 Best answer
Expert Alumni
Feb 4, 2022 6:20:45 PM

This question is to qualify for the Child Tax Credit.  The Child Tax Credit (CTC) for 2021 is fully refundable if you (or your spouse, if filing a joint return) have a principal place of abode in the United States for more than half of 2021. 

 

"Abode" has been variously defined as one's home, habitation, residence, domicile, or place of dwelling.  The location of your abode often will depend on where you maintain your economic, family, and personal ties.  I guess the IRS is too fancy to ask if you lived in the United States for at least six months (which is how they used to ask...)

 

24 Replies
Expert Alumni
Feb 4, 2022 6:20:45 PM

This question is to qualify for the Child Tax Credit.  The Child Tax Credit (CTC) for 2021 is fully refundable if you (or your spouse, if filing a joint return) have a principal place of abode in the United States for more than half of 2021. 

 

"Abode" has been variously defined as one's home, habitation, residence, domicile, or place of dwelling.  The location of your abode often will depend on where you maintain your economic, family, and personal ties.  I guess the IRS is too fancy to ask if you lived in the United States for at least six months (which is how they used to ask...)

 

Level 1
Feb 4, 2022 6:36:24 PM

so in lame terms do we live together in a home in the USA ? (we do own a home and lived in it over 7 years now) so my answer would be yes ?

Level 15
Feb 4, 2022 6:49:53 PM


@raulgsr wrote:

so in lame terms do we live together in a home in the USA ? (we do own a home and lived in it over 7 years now) so my answer would be yes ?


Yes.  Your answer would be Yes.

New Member
Feb 16, 2022 7:28:31 PM

What about those person, who don't own a house and pay rent month to month ?

Thank you

Expert Alumni
Feb 16, 2022 7:40:21 PM

Yes, if you live in the US and it is your principal residence, no matter how you pay for it, the answer is yes.

 

@nikeshadkr

New Member
Mar 11, 2022 12:17:20 AM

How do I change my answer? I can't find it anywhere in Turbotax Premier version.

Expert Alumni
Mar 11, 2022 5:24:04 AM

This is a question that is asked during the section for the Child Tax Credit. Please step through that interview again and you can click the checkbox to answer this question.

 

  1. Click on Federal in the menu bar on the left
  2. Select Deductions & Credits at the top
  3. Scroll down to the section for You and Your Family and click on Show More
  4. Select Start or Revisit for  Advance payments, Child and Other Dependent Tax Credits

Level 2
Mar 13, 2022 4:02:22 PM

I dont have a child or a spouse.

Then why does turbotax ask me about how much child tax credit i received?

early on in the software i entered "no dependents". Turbotax 2021 is full of bugs.

Why is turbotax including the schedule 8812 for single childless persons?????????

Level 15
Mar 13, 2022 4:05:07 PM


@buenoshun wrote:

I dont have a child or a spouse.

Then why does turbotax ask me about how much child tax credit i received?

early on in the software i entered "no dependents". Turbotax 2021 is full of bugs.


Everyone is being asked this question since TurboTax does not know if the user was one who received these advances from the IRS in 2021.

 

Enter a 0 (zero) when asked to enter a number on the Schedule 8812. This will correct the issue and remove the Schedule 8812 from your tax return so that you can file the return.

Level 15
Mar 13, 2022 4:05:25 PM

@buenoshun

Everyone has to answer whether they received advance child tax credit payments.   If you did not receive any of those payments between July and December you need to answer that you did not receive any payments.

 

There are so many scenarios with those payments---like divorced/never married parents who have issues over who received the payments, who claimed the children, etc. --- the software has no way of knowing if any of that involves you---so you have to answer the questions about it. 

 

Please follow these steps to indicate you did not receive any advanced payments:

  1. Click on the "Search" on the top and type "Child tax credit"
  2. Click on “Jump to Child Tax Credit”
  3. Continue through the questions until the "Tell us about any advance Child Tax Credit payments" screen and select "No".
  4. Continue through the questions.

 

Level 2
Mar 13, 2022 4:13:52 PM

im afraid that if i fill out the child tax credit section, it will generate a lot of paperwork with statements like Mr XXXXX has children, which would be a false statement on a legal document.

Again, why does turbotax put its customers into situations like this?

Level 15
Mar 13, 2022 4:19:43 PM

@buenoshun You are over thinking it.   Everyone has to answer the child tax credit questions this year.   Just follow the directions given, and you will be fine.

Level 2
Mar 13, 2022 4:30:20 PM

ok. I filled in zero on the form.

these questions are just illogical.

I'm glad they are not asking if my boat is 40ft long or 30ft long. because I dont own a boat.

The form should have a checkbox do you have dependents or children or something, or number of children...

 

New Member
Mar 25, 2022 4:28:20 PM

I am married and live in a house in the US.  I answered Yes to that question.   I entered 0 to the next question.

I answered no to the abode in puerto rico & entered a 0 there.   after doing this, I received an extra $500 added to my refund amount.    I like the extra refund, but don't understand why it added it at that time.

Is that normal for it to add that amount to the refund?

 

thanks.

Expert Alumni
Mar 25, 2022 6:33:57 PM

To clarify, are you claiming a dependent on your return? This may have added another $500 to your refund as an other dependent credit. 

 

@danhyde2

New Member
Mar 26, 2022 5:31:44 PM

I did the same things and then my amount due increased by $1100! What gives? 

Returning Member
Mar 27, 2022 2:10:14 PM

Okay well I filled married filling separately last year cause I was unaware that are marriage license wasn't documented found out just a few days ago they wasn't so now I'm filling singal with only one dependent but she not a child she is an adult

 

Expert Alumni
Mar 27, 2022 7:53:05 PM

You may be able to claim your daughter as a dependent as a qualifying relative depending on her age.

 

Here is a TurboTax Help, Who can I claim as my dependent? Read this to see if you can file as head of household with a dependent.

 

@Tosha1029

Level 3
Apr 1, 2022 12:35:10 PM

-> Filing status is "Single" with no dependents. 

-> Letter 6419 Information unnecessary.

->.Letter 6475 also unnecessary.

It's all unnecessary. Unless you operate a TurboTax suck the life out of the poor folks who only want to free file their taxes. 

Expert Alumni
Apr 1, 2022 12:58:36 PM

The IRS has deemed the information completely necessary for 2021 as both letters apply to fully refundable credits.  You could have received Advance Child Tax Credit payments if you had claimed a qualifying dependent in 2020 even if you weren't claiming one in 2021.  Also, the 3rd stimulus payment can be claimed on your return if it was not received.  TurboTax walks you through the steps to confirm your responses so you get your returns filed accurately.  These items do not negate a simple return that was eligible to be free-filed if you filed prior to 3/31/2022.

 

@robertasherbrane

Level 3
Apr 1, 2022 5:02:23 PM

You're kidding me. Take this job and shove it. If you had a real job, you would have received a salary, Maybe even a bonus. Give me a break!

Level 3
Apr 1, 2022 5:06:31 PM

Turbo tax walking me through my tax return is unnecessary. Certainly when it is filed and rejected. And my credit card has already been charge. TurboTax is a SCAM! Sucking the life out of the POOR people. People to poor to need a Tax Lawyer! Here's a Beetle quote: "I read the news today, oh boy/About a lucky man who made the grade/And though the news was rather sad/Well, I just had to laugh/I saw the photograph"

Level 2
Apr 2, 2022 3:11:01 PM

I am wondering the same exact thing.  I just got off the phone for over an hour with an Expert AND her supervisor as well and neither one of them could tell me how to get back to that question because I'm pretty sure I answered it wrong and don't know why it added to my refund.  But we can't find it.  Great. I hope someone can answer that on here.  I also don't understand why everyone keeps saying it has to do with the child tax credit.  This question had nothing to do with kids.  It was in the federal review part of the process, not child credits.   I'm so frustrated. :(

Level 2
Apr 2, 2022 3:15:17 PM

What does that have to do with living in Puerto Rico?  I am almost certain I answered that question about the principle abode wrong but no one has been able to tell me how to get back to it to change it.  I don't understand what those questions have to do with dependents.