Please explain to me why my son does not count as a dependent on my taxes

[eateeate]

he is 17 years old and has lived with me all year in 2016

[jerry2000]

You can claim him as a dependent but he does not qualify for the Child Tax Credit because of his age. Once a child turns 17, they no longer qualify for the child tax credit for that whole year. Claiming a child as a dependent and claiming the child tax credit are two completely separate and different things.