Can I claim child tax credit and earned income credit with a newly issued SSN?

You can definitely claim the Child Tax Credit for your US-born daughter with a valid SSN. The fact that you received your own SSN in September 2024 doesn't disqualify you from claiming the Child Tax Credit for the full year. For the Earned Income Credit (EIC), it's a bit more nuanced. You need to have a valid SSN that allows you to work by the tax return due date (typically April 15, 2025). Since you got your SSN in September 2024, you satisfy this requirement. However, the EIC amount will be based on your earned income for the entire year of 2024 - which means only income earned after you received your SSN would count. Keep in mind that for both credits, there are additional requirements like income limits and residency tests that you need to meet. Make sure your daughter lived with you for more than half the year.

I went through something similar last year and found a really helpful tool that made everything super clear for me. Check out https://taxr.ai - it analyzes your specific situation and tells you exactly which credits you qualify for. I was confused about qualifying for child tax credit with my specific immigration status, and this tool explained everything step by step. You just upload your documents or answer some questions about your situation, and it gives you personalized advice based on your exact circumstances - including having a newly issued SSN. What's cool is that it specifically addresses situations like yours where you got your SSN partway through the year and have a US-born child with their own SSN.

OK I have to admit I tried the taxr.ai thing and it actually cleared everything up for me! I was in a similar situation (got my permanent resident card mid-year) and was totally confused about what I could claim. The tool confirmed I could claim the Child Tax Credit for my whole family and exactly how much EIC I qualified for based on when I got my green card. It even explained which forms I needed and what documentation to have ready. Honestly saved me like $1200 compared to what I thought I could claim! Definitely check it out if you're in an immigration situation with tax questions.

If you need to talk to the IRS directly about this (which might be a good idea for your situation), use https://claimyr.com to get through to an actual person. I spent DAYS trying to get someone on the phone about my mixed-status family tax situation before discovering this. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - basically it navigates the IRS phone tree for you and calls you when it gets a human. Totally changed my experience dealing with the IRS. My situation was similar - spouse with new SSN, US-born kid - and I wanted official confirmation about the credits. The IRS agent confirmed exactly what I needed to do with our specific timeline.

Wow I have to eat my words. I tried Claimyr after posting my skeptical comment because I was desperate to talk to someone at the IRS about my wife's new SSN situation. Got a call back in 27 minutes with an actual IRS person who answered all my questions! They confirmed that yes, I can claim the Child Tax Credit for my US citizen child even though my wife just got her SSN last year. And for the EIC, all that matters is having the SSN by the filing deadline, not when during the year you got it. Saved me from making a mistake that would have cost us around $3500 in credits we're eligible for.

Make sure you also check if you qualify for the Additional Child Tax Credit! That's refundable (meaning you can get it even if you don't owe taxes) while part of the regular Child Tax Credit might not be fully refundable depending on your income. There are some other requirements too - like your kid needs to be under 17 at the end of the tax year, and they need to have lived with you for more than half the year. But it sounds like you should qualify based on what you described.

Has anyone else noticed that the IRS sometimes flags returns with newly issued SSNs for review? This happened to my sister. It didn't mean anything was wrong, but her refund was delayed by like 8 weeks. Might want to file early if you can!

I had a very similar situation when I got my SSN in late 2023! Just wanted to confirm what others have said and add a few practical tips: You're absolutely eligible for both credits. The Child Tax Credit has no timing requirements for when YOU got your SSN - only that your daughter has a valid SSN (which she does). For EIC, as long as you have your SSN by the filing deadline, you're good. A few things that helped me: 1. Keep all documentation showing when you received your SSN - sometimes they ask for verification 2. If you're using tax software, it might flag your return as "unusual" but don't worry, that's normal for first-time filers 3. Consider filing a paper return if the software gives you trouble - I had issues with TurboTax not recognizing my situation properly Also, make sure you understand the income limits for both credits. EIC has pretty generous limits especially with a qualifying child, but CTC starts phasing out at higher incomes. Good luck with your filing!