If a Divorced unemployed woman has custody of 17 yr old son but cannot determine which childcare amount she is entitled to claim $2000 or $500. Help?

[xmasbaby0]

If your child was 17 at the end of 2023 he is too old for the $2000 child tax credit.   You get the $500 credit for other dependents if he is older than 16.

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

[Vanessa A]

If you were unemployed for 2023 and have no taxable income. you would not claim either.  Since your son is 17, he is only eligible for the $500 Non-Refundable Other Dependent Credit.  Since it is nonrefundable, that means if you do not have a tax liability, there is nothing to reduce so you would not be able to claim the credit.

The child tax credit ends when they turn 17.