Will adding my grandmother has a dependent on my taxes add a bigger refund? I have done it with and without her as a dependent and the amount has not change.

[xmasbaby0 · Accepted solution]

Adding Grandma as a dependent could result in a $500 credit for other dependents.  is she your dependent?

CREDIT FOR OTHER DEPENDENTS

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/4499708-what-is-the-500-credit-for-other-dependents-family-tax-cre...

IRS interview to help determine who can be claimed:

https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/who-can-i-claim-as-a-dependent

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/3113432-who-can-i-claim-as-my-dependent  

[TaxGuyBill]

However, that is a "nonrefundable" credit, which means if your income tax is already down to $0 (Line 11 of your Form 1040), the credit won't increase your refund.

[vclonmell]

Hi! Thanks for your helpful answers, but I don't have a 1040 only  a W2. Also I pay 4500.00 a year in child care for 2 children and this has only added 300.00 to my refund. When I did the turbo tax estimator the calculations of my 3 dependents (including my grandmother) and child care was much more then what it is not telling I am due to receive. Does anyone know why? This would be very helpful thanks.

[xmasbaby0]

When you actually prepare your tax return you will be preparing it on a Form 1040, and you will be entering the data from your W-2.  You do not get the same kinds of credits for Grandma as you can get for your children.  As stated--Grandma can only get you a non-refundable $500 credit.
Your children can qualify you for other child-related credits.  See below.

[TaxGuyBill]

As xmasbaby pointed out, you are using TurboTax to prepare the 1040, as that is the tax return itself and what is sent to the IRS to get your refund.

You should be able to "preview" your 1040.  If you do that, you can see your total income tax on Line 11.  The credit for Grandma and the Credit for daycare can ONLY offset that amount.  Also, $1200 of the credit for the other two children can ONLY be used against that amount.  So most likely, that is what is limiting things.
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Yes, TaxCaster is only an estimate, and lately has given some rather inaccurate estimates.

[xmasbaby0]

I do want to correct one thing--the whole CTC is not refundable--it is only partially refundable.

[xmasbaby0]

There are several child-related credits you *may* get if you have a dependent child.

You might be getting the Child Tax Credit--that is not a refund--it lowers the tax you owe, up to $2000 per child, but if you do not owe tax then you may not get the full amount of CTC.  If you qualify for this credit, TurboTax calculates and automatically adds it to your refund.

You might be able to claim the child and dependent care credit if you paid someone to take care of your child so you could work. This is not a refundable credit, so it will not be in your refund.  It can lower the tax you owe.

You might qualify for Earned Income Credit, which is a refundable credit if you worked and earned income. The EIC is based on the amount you earned.  If you do qualify for EIC, TurboTax automatically calculates the amount and adds it to your refund.

Look at your 2018 tax return to see the child-related /dependent credits you received:

Child tax credit line 12a

Credit for Other Dependents line 12a

Earned Income Credit (EIC) line 17a

Child and Dependent Care Credit line 12     (comes from Schedule 3 Form 2441)

[xmasbaby0]

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