Can a single mom with no income file taxes for one child

[RobertB4444]

@amina124 you're posting on a thread that is two years old and the advice is out of date as well.  In 2019 you could not file a return with all zeroes but in 2021 you can.  You will need all of the information about your new baby and then you will enter it along with your own.  Then you can skip the income section and go straight to entering the fact that you received NO advance child tax credit and you will also need to enter in that you didn't receive a $1400 stimulus for your baby (you need to know whether you received one for yourself.)

Make sure - since you had no income - that you and your baby are not the dependents of someone else.

[Ashross10]

Can I ask how you went about this and filed ? 

[JohnB5677]

Yes, TurboTax can help to file a zero tax return.

Go to Turbotax.com

Set up an account with an ID and Password

Answer a few questions and select our free version

You will complete posting your Personal  Info

The IRS has issued guidance for electronically filing $0 dollar returns.

In addition to all other information required to be entered on Form 1040, a zero AGI filer must enter the following:

• Enter $1 as taxable interest 

• To Post 1099-INT

• Start at Income & Expenses

• Select Interest on 1099-INT

• Yes you did receive Interest

• Continue to the next page

• Enter your bank name (Any Bank)

• Change how I enter my form

• Type it myself

• IRS - Not required to file tax return

[Qualesha1988]

Hey. Can I ask how and what did you do? I just had a baby 3 months ago but been out of work since March and can use the money for filing my dependants this new year coming.

[xmasbaby0]

@ If your child was born in 2022, you will not enter anything about that child on a tax return until you file your 2022 tax return next year in 2023.   We do not know if Congress will make any changes to the child-related credits before then.   Check back here when it is time to prepare a 2022 tax return.

[KariGuillermo]

Did you have any problems with that at all? I was trying to file just because I wanted to see if I would qualify for anything and I got the same thing but I thought it was a miscalculation or something. So I’m just trying to look around first and see if anyone had some advice or something.

[KariGuillermo]

@amina124  Did you have any problems with that at all? I was trying to file just because I wanted to see if I would qualify for anything and I got the same thing but I thought it was a miscalculation or something. So I’m just trying to look around first and see if anyone had some advice or something.

[xmasbaby0]

@KariGuillermo  What are you trying to do?   You posted to a thread that has posts from multiple people so no one knows what you tried to do or what you are asking about.   Do you mean you tried to prepare a 2021 tax return?   The only tax year you can use the online program for is 2021.   Did you have a dependent child in 2021?   

[NCperson]

@KariGuillermo  - unique to 2021, there are at least two ways that someone with no income could get a 'refund"

1) Recovery Rebate (stimulus)

2) Child tax Credit - if you have a dependent child under the age of 18 as of 12/31/21

The Recovery Rebate is not available in 2022 and the Child Tax Credit requiring earning income exceeding $2500. 

[SweetieJean]

@KariGuillermo  Are you saying you also have no income, but wish to file?  How do you support yourself and your child(ren)?  You might actually be someone else's dependent.   If so, you might not qualify for tax credits.

[Irene_2022]

How do I apply for tax without income but I have a kid 

[DoninGA]

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@Irene_2022 wrote:

How do I apply for tax without income but I have a kid 

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Without any taxable income or taxes withheld from income you cannot get a tax refund, with or without a child.

[hac77]

can you explain how? i cant figure it out

[DoninGA]

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@hac77  wrote:

can you explain how? i cant figure it out

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For tax year 2022, If you have no income of any kind to report on a tax return, then there is no need or reason to file a tax return, with or without a dependent child.  You are not eligible for any kind of tax credit if you do not have any earned income.  And you cannot receive a tax refund if you did not have any income where income taxes would have been withheld.

[Kellironnelle]

You are so VERY incorrect!! If you are a single mother and did not have any income or income below the filing requirement, ABSOLUTELY YOU FILE!!! There are many tax credits you are afforded because you have a or more children that will provide you with a refund!! A prior client I encouraged to file, same situation I just described, received $3050 due to Earned Income Credit and the Child Tax Credit, not working one day that year!! SINGLE MOTHERS OUT THERE, PLEASE FILE IF YOU DID OR DID NOT WORK!!