Claiming credits if I didn’t work

[Adriannac92]

I didn’t  work in 2021 or 2022 and didn’t file am I still able to claim my children and received a refund

[DoninGA]

If you received no income from work, then on the 2022 tax return you are not eligible for the child tax credit.  There is no need to file if you did not receive any type of income for 2022.

[EDITED]

[Vanessa A]

For 2021, you did not need to have income to claim the Child Tax Credit.  You would need to file a 2021 tax return, if you did not receive the credit, however most people who qualified received the credit.  You would need to download the 2021 version of TurboTax to file as it is not longer available for e-file.

For 2022, you did need income, so if you did not have income in 2022, you would not be able to claim the credit. 

[VolvoGirl]

If you have a simple return and want to file 2021 for free you can fill out the forms by hand.  Here are some basic forms.....

Here is the 2021 1040 return

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-prior/f1040--2021.pdf

or if you want bigger type use 1040SR for Seniors,

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-prior/f1040s--2021.pdf

2021 1040 Instructions

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-prior/i1040gi--2021.pdf

2021 EIC and Tax Tables

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-prior/i1040tt--2021.pdf

Schedules 1-3

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-prior/f1040s1--2021.pdf

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-prior/f1040s2--2021.pdf

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-prior/f1040s3--2021.pdf

[VolvoGirl]

You will need the  Child Tax Credit form 8862

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8862.pdf