The mother of my 3 children claimed the kids in year 2020but since then she has lost custody and I have sole/primary custody and residency of all 3 will I receive ctc?

[baileesmama12]

They have lived with me since October of 2020. She claimed them on 2020 taxes due to having them most of that year. She claims she opted out of the advanced payments but I know she's lying and recieved them. Will I get that money for my 3 kids on my tax return even if she already recieved it without even having the kids?

[VolvoGirl]

Yes you can get it all again even if she already got some.

[xmasbaby0 · Accepted solution]

Yes if you are claiming the children you can get the full CTC.    Even if she lied and got the advance payments----she might have to repay them, but that will not be your problem.    Your CTC will show up on line 28 of your Form 1040.

Make sure you have entered your child as a dependent in My Info, and that you have entered the child's Social Security number. If your child was born in 2021make 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.

Make sure you go through the questions in Federal Review for the EIP payments.   If you did not get the EIP payments for claiming your children you can also get those payments.   Use the recovery rebate credit.  It will show up on line 30.

[baileesmama12]

Line 28 is blank. But line 30 says $5,600. 

[baileesmama12]

On my return it says that only 1 child (the baby) qualifies for the ctc and my other 3 kids I got the 500 each for....so weird. I've already submitted my federal so I guess I'll just have to wait and see what happens. Thanks for all your help!

[xmasbaby0]

You did not mention the ages of the other children.   If they were older than 17 then you do not get the child tax credit for them.   You get the $500 credit for other dependents for them instead.   Or .....if they are younger than 18, and you did not get the CTC then you answered something incorrectly in My Info when you entered them as dependents.  Did you enter their Social Security numbers?   

Wish you would have asked your questions and waited for replies before e-filing.   If you already e-filed then you have to wait and see if the return is accepted or rejected.   If it is rejected you can fix mistakes and re-file.   If it is accepted then you have to wait until it has been fully processed by the IRS, and then you can amend.  It is taking the IRS about six months or more to process amended returns, so you may have a very long wait to get the CTC for the other children.