I've been following this thread and wanted to share some additional clarity since there seems to be some confusion about the numbers. For 2024 taxes (filed in 2025), you're absolutely correct that you should receive $2,000 per qualifying child. With your $58K AGI and HOH status, you're well below the phase-out thresholds, so you should get the full credit for both kids. The key thing that trips people up is that the Child Tax Credit can appear in multiple places on your return depending on your tax liability. If your actual tax owed is less than $4,000, you won't see the full $4,000 in one spot. Instead, it gets split: - The non-refundable portion (up to your tax liability) reduces what you owe - The refundable portion (Additional Child Tax Credit, up to $1,600 per child) can be part of your refund So if you only owed $2,000 in taxes, you'd see $2,000 reducing your tax bill and up to $2,000 ($1,600 max per child) as refundable credit. The total benefit is still $4,000, just distributed differently. Check Schedule 8812 - that's where all the Child Tax Credit calculations are detailed and you can see exactly how your credit was applied.

I went through this exact same confusion last year! With HOH status and two kids, you should definitely be getting the full $2,000 per child ($4,000 total) at your income level. The reason it looks "off" is probably because the credit gets split between different parts of your return. I found mine scattered across: - Line 19 on Form 1040 (non-refundable portion that reduced my tax bill) - Line 28 on Form 1040 (refundable portion as part of my refund) - All the details on Schedule 8812 What helped me was adding up both portions to see the total benefit. If you had low tax liability (which is common at $58K income), most of your $4,000 credit probably became refundable rather than just reducing taxes owed. Double-check Schedule 8812 - it should show your total Child Tax Credit calculation and how it was divided. As long as both kids are under 17 with valid SSNs and lived with you more than half the year, you should be getting the full amount, just not necessarily in one obvious line item.

Something nobody mentioned - if you're close to the threshold, making a retirement contribution might NOT help because the $2,500 is based on EARNED income, not adjusted gross income. Contributing to an IRA reduces your AGI but not your earned income. This tripped me up last year - I contributed to an IRA thinking it would help my tax situation but it didn't change my eligibility for the refundable child tax credit at all.

Based on all the great advice here, it sounds like you have a clear path forward! With your $2,100 in wages plus the $350-400 from babysitting, you'd be right at or over the $2,500 threshold for the refundable Child Tax Credit. Don't let your ex claim your daughter this year - stick to your custody agreement rotation! Once you report that babysitting income as self-employment on Schedule C, you should qualify for the full benefits of claiming her. Just make sure to keep records of the babysitting payments (even informal ones like text messages or payment apps) in case the IRS asks. And remember you might owe a small amount of self-employment tax on that babysitting income, but the Child Tax Credit will likely more than make up for it. The fact that you got the credit in 2023 with no income was probably due to different rules that were in effect then. The current $2,500 earned income threshold is what applies now, but you're going to meet it once you include all your income!

I've been using TurboTax for years but these stories are making me seriously consider switching! The bait-and-switch pricing tactics sound exactly like what I experienced last year - they quoted me one price at the beginning, then by the time I got to the end it was almost double with all their "required" upgrades. Quick question for those who've switched - how does FreeTaxUSA handle things like charitable deductions and mortgage interest? Those are my main deductions each year and I want to make sure I'm not missing out on anything by switching from TurboTax's more guided approach. Also really intrigued by that taxr.ai tool someone mentioned for double-checking everything. Might be worth the peace of mind when making the switch!

I made the switch from TurboTax to FreeTaxUSA this year after dealing with similar pricing frustrations! What really sealed the deal for me was when TurboTax tried to charge me an extra $40 just to include my HSA contributions - something that should be standard. FreeTaxUSA handled everything I needed perfectly. The interface took a little getting used to since it's less "chatty" than TurboTax, but honestly that was refreshing. No constant pop-ups trying to sell me additional services or "audit protection" that I never wanted anyway. One thing I'd recommend to anyone switching - take screenshots of your final tax summary before filing, just so you have a record of what you claimed. I also used the IRS's own withholding calculator on their website to double-check my numbers, which gave me extra confidence that everything was accurate. The $25 total cost versus TurboTax's $120+ was honestly shocking. Same result, way less money. Never looking back!

Quick note: You mentioned you're not from this country - depending on your visa status and tax treaty, your eligibility for education credits might be affected. Some international students on certain visas can't claim these credits! Make sure to check your specific situation as an international student before claiming.

As an international student myself, I went through this exact confusion last year! First, you absolutely need to determine your tax residency status using the substantial presence test or if you qualify under a tax treaty. This determines whether you can even claim education credits. If you qualify as a resident alien for tax purposes, then yes - you can claim the Lifetime Learning Credit for your computer purchase since you paid for it yourself and aren't claimed as a dependent. The LLC allows 20% of up to $10,000 in qualified expenses, so your $2,500 computer could get you a $500 credit. However, the computer must be "required" for enrollment or attendance. Save your course syllabi that mention online submissions, emails about digital assignments, or any school documentation showing computer requirements. I had to provide this during my filing. One more thing - even though your parents paid tuition, if they don't claim you as a dependent AND you're eligible for education credits as an international student, you can still claim the LLC for expenses you personally paid. But double-check your visa status first - F-1 students in their first 5 years are typically nonresident aliens and can't claim these credits.

have you considered talking to a tax professional? they might be able to find other credits or deductions you qualify for

There are some free tax help programs you might want to look into! The IRS has VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) sites that provide free tax preparation for people earning under $64,000. They can review your return and make sure you're getting all the credits you qualify for. You can find locations near you on the IRS website. Also, some community centers and libraries offer free tax prep during tax season. Worth checking out since you mentioned you can't afford a paid preparer right now.