Save Money with the Child Tax Credit

							 IRS Tax Tips                                                                    February 21, 2013

Useful Links:                Issue Number: IRS Tax Tip 2013-18
IRS.gov Home                 Inside This Issue
1040 Central

Help For Hurricane Victims
                                    Save Money with the Child Tax Credit
                             If you have a child under age 17, the Child Tax Credit may save you
News Essentials              money at tax-time. Here are some facts the IRS wants you to know
                             about the credit.
What's Hot
                                    Amount. The non-refundable Child Tax Credit may help
News Releases
                                     reduce your federal income tax by up to $1,000 for each
IRS - The Basics
                                     qualifying child you claim on your return.
                                    Qualifications. For this credit, a qualifying child must pass
IRS Guidance                         seven tests:

Media Contacts               1. Age test. The child must have been under age 17 at the end of 2012.

Facts & Figures              2. Relationship test. The child must be your son, daughter, stepchild,
                             foster child, brother, sister, stepbrother, or stepsister. A child may also
Problem Alerts               be a descendant of any of these individuals, including your grandchild,
                             niece or nephew. You would always treat an adopted child as your own
Around The Nation
                             child. An adopted child includes a child lawfully placed with you for
                             legal adoption.
e-News Subscriptions

                             3. Support test. The child must not have provided more than half of
                             their own support for the year.
The Newsroom Topics
                             4. Dependent test. You must claim the child as a dependent on your
Tax Tips 2012                federal tax return.

Radio PSAs                   5. Joint return test. The child cannot file a joint return for the year,
                             unless the only reason they are filing is to claim a refund.
Fact Sheets
                             6. Citizenship test. The child must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national or
Armed Forces                 U.S. resident alien.
Disaster Relief
                             7. Residence test. In most cases, the child must have lived with you
Scams / Consumer Alerts      for more than half of 2012.
Tax Shelters                       Limitations. The Child Tax Credit is subject to income
                                    limitations, and may be reduced or eliminated depending on
                                    your filing status and income.
                                   Additional Child Tax Credit. If you qualify and get less than
IRS Resources                       the full Child Tax Credit, you could receive a refund even if
                                    you owe no tax with the refundable Additional Child Tax
Compliance & Enforcement
                                    Credit.
                                   Schedule 8812. If you qualify to claim the Child Tax Credit
Contact My Local Office
                                    make sure to check whether you must complete and attach the
Filing Options                      new Schedule 8812, Child Tax Credit, with your return. If you
                                    qualify to claim the Additional Child Tax Credit, you must
Forms & Pubs                        complete and attach Schedule 8812.

Frequently Asked Questions   IRS Publication 972, Child Tax Credit, can provide you with more
                             details. View it online at IRS.gov or request it by calling 800-TAX-
News                         FORM (800-829-3676). You can also use the Interactive Tax Assistant
                             tool on the IRS website to check if you can claim the credit. The ITA is
Taxpayer Advocate
                             a resource that can help answer tax law questions.
Where to File

                             Additional IRS Resources:

                                   IRS Free File
                                   E-file Options
                                   Interactive Tax Assistant
                                   Schedule 8812, Child Tax Credit
                                   Publication 972, Child Tax Credit

                             IRS YouTube Videos:

                                   Do Your Taxes for Free: Taxes Made Less Taxing - English |
                                    Spanish

                             Back to Top