why I don't get child tax credit?

[Carolineling2020]

I'm filing married filing jointly. I know there is a phase out income, and our income is not over $400K. But we got "0" for Non-refundable Child Tax Credit. Also our income is less than 2020 and we got the credit for tax year of 2020.

We received 2021 Advanced Child Credit. But I don't think that will impact on our Child Tax Credit.

Could someone please give me a direction where I may enter wrong or what caused the problem? I can't figure it out, I follow the Turbo tax installed program and entered all the information as required.  Thank you so much!

[AliciaP1]

The 2021 Child Tax Credit is a fully refundable credit this year if you fall below the phase-out limits.  To enter your information in TurboTax Desktop please follow these steps:  

1. Sign in to TurboTax and open or continue your return.
2. Search for Child Tax Credit.
3. Click the Jump to child tax credit link and Continue.
4. Answer the question on the Let's start with where you spent the most time in 2021 screen and Continue.
5. On the Tell us about any advance Child Tax Credit payments screen, answer Yes, enter the amount from your letter in the Tell us about any advance Child Tax Credit payments box, and Continue.
   • If your spouse also received payments, be sure to enter that amount as well.
6. Answer the questions on the following screens, confirm your amount on the Let's recheck your advance Child Tax Credit payments screen, and Continue

[Carolineling2020]

Thanks AliciaP1. I have already followed these steps. My line 19 (nonrefundable child credit) on 1040 is "0". 

Line 19 is from line 14h on schedule 8812. 14h is from smaller of 14d or 14g. 14g is 2000 for my two kids. But 14d is from smaller of 14a or 14c. 14c is from 14a which is if I have supported anyone other than my kids. This part doesn't make sense. If I don't support anyone other than my kids, my 14a is always 0, then 14c is always 0, than 14d always picks 0 than my own kids' credit of 2000. I will never get that child credit as long as I don't support anyone else other than my own kids. The form seems wrong. 

[VolvoGirl]

It will be on 1040 line 28 now.  

Did you enter the advance amount you did get?  Then the rest should be on line 28 if you qualify like if your income isn't over the max.  Oh and your total refund isn't necessarily the amount of the credit.   It either adds to your refund or reduces a tax due.

The new Child Tax Credit for 2021 raises the cut off age from 17 to 18 and makes the credit $3,000 (3,600 for a child under age 6).  Check 1040 line 28 for it.

Before filing,  You can preview the 1040 or print the whole return

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/accessing/help/how-do-i-preview-my-turbotax-online-return-before-f...

[VolvoGirl]

found this in a news article, it explains it pretty well........

While the CTC expansion was structured to not increase taxes on any household, a dollar of credit received in advance results in a dollar less received at filing time. For families unaware of the trade-off, it could mean a surprise when they see their refund total this year.

Consider a married couple with a 10-year-old child who normally received their $2,000 CTC when they filed their taxes. They would have received $1,500 of their $3,000 in advance. As such, they could potentially see their refund shrink by $500 even though their total benefit increased to $3,000 because they are left with $1,500 instead of their normal $2,000 at tax time.

[Carolineling2020]

Thanks VolvoGirl!

I have 2000 for my line 28, but my line 19 which I usually get 4000 for child tax credit and I got "0" for 2021. I don't know why. I rather get 4000 than just 2000 on line 28 if it's because I have 2000 advanced child tax credit. That really doesn't make sense. 

[VolvoGirl]

How much advance did you get during the year?  How many kids?  Yes you already got half of it.   You only get the remaining amount on line 28.  

[JillS56]

The first half of the child tax credit was the advanced portion you received from July to December 2021.   You should have received a letter 6419 that lists the amount you were paid and the number of children that were covered.   

The second half of the credit is a Refundable Child Tax credit.   Your return will not report a non-refundable portion as there is no non-refundable portion it is  Advanced Child Tax Credit and Refundable Child Tax Credit.  The second half of the child tax credit will show on Line 28.  

If you are using the online version go to "Tax Tools" then "Tools" then "View My Tax Summary" then click on "Preview my 1040" (it is shown to the left of the summary).   Look at Line 28 and see if the remainder of your tax credit shows on this line.  

If using a desktop version, click on Forms and go to the 1040 and look on Line 28.