CTC VS IRS Direct File (efile) closed

[clrobertson1287]

I'm not receiving anything back on my kids. I can't figure out why. I'm filling the 2024 tax year, on Jan 13th 2025. The IRS 2025 tax season doesn't open until Jan 27th. Would this prevent the CTC from showing up? Or is there another issue somewhere? Turbo Tax also has some notices about waiting for some form updates. Idk what they are, so idk if this affects anything either?! 

[xmasbaby0]

Make sure you have entered your child as a dependent in My Info, and that you have entered the child's Social Security number.    Careful— do not say that your child’s SSN is not valid for employment.  If your child was born in 2023 make sure you said he lived with you the whole year.  There is an oddly worded question that asks if the child paid over half their own support.  Say NO to that question.

Have you entered income from working in 2024?  If not,  you will not receive an income tax refund based on having dependent children.

  The maximum amount of the child tax credit is now $2000 per child; the refundable “additional child tax credit” amount is $1700.   In order to get that credit, you have to have income from working.  The credit is calculated based on the amount you earned above $2500 multiplied by 15%, up to the full $1700 per child. If the amount you earned was too low, you will not get the full $1700.

 If your child is older than 16 at the end of 2024, you do not get the CTC.  But you may still get the non-refundable $500 credit for other dependents instead.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1900923-what-is-the-child-tax-credit

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

https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/does-my-childdependent-qualify-for-the-child-tax-credit-or-the-credit-f...

And for the Earned Income Credit

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1899157-what-are-the-qualifications-for-the-earned-income-credit-e...

https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit/use-the-eitc-assistant

Look at your 2024 Form 1040 to see the child-related credits you received

PREVIEW 1040

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901539-how-do-i-preview-my-turbotax-online-return-before-filing

Child Tax Credit line 19

Credit for Other Dependents line 19

Earned Income Credit line 27

Additional Child Tax Credit line 28

[clrobertson1287]

Hello. That's the same generic response I found on most CTC questions. However, none of that is an issue. Dependants are filled out correctly; They are young; Business Income and Expenses have been done. Still, it has never shower any refund on the kids. So, my question was- would the IRS Direct File system, which is currently undergoing maintenance & isn't open until the 27th, prevent the TurboTax system from adding the CTC? Or does that have no affect? If no affect, then what else could it be, beyond the previous reply? 

[xmasbaby0]

No,  the IRS Direct File is not causing any problems within TurboTax software for the child tax credit.     So, you have some other issue.   You have entered something incorrectly about the children in MY INFO or you did not have enough income from working to get the refundable credit.