What's Schedule 8812?

Schedule 8812 (Child Tax Credit) is used to claim the Child Tax Credit (CTC), Credit for Other Dependents (ODC), and Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC). The CTC and ODC are nonrefundable credits and only provide a credit up to the amount of tax owed. The ACTC is a refundable credit and provides a refund even if no tax is owed.

• To qualify for the CTC or ACTC, each child must have a Social Security number (SSN) that is issued before the due date of your 2023 return (including extensions).
• If your dependent does not have an SSN, you may be able to claim the ODC instead. However, your dependent must have a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) by the due date of your return (including extensions).
  • Note: If you apply for a TIN prior to the due date of your 2023 return (including extensions), and the IRS issues a TIN as a result of the application, the IRS will consider the TIN as issued prior to the due date of the return.

If your dependent qualifies for one of these credits, TurboTax will automatically add it to your return. Just enter your dependent information and complete your return as you would normally. When you're done, we'll fill out the schedule and file it along with your return.