Can I get the child tax credit with zero income for 2023? Single disabled parent question

You can still potentially qualify for the Child Tax Credit without income, but there's some important details to understand here. The Child Tax Credit (CTC) for 2023 is worth up to $2,000 per qualifying child under 17, with up to $1,500 being refundable as the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC). Normally, you need earned income to qualify for the refundable portion. However, your situation might qualify under what's called the "zero-income exception." You'll still need to file a tax return even with no income to claim it. The IRS form 1040 can be filed showing zero income, and you'll need to complete Schedule 8812 for the Child Tax Credit. Since you mentioned your disability application is pending, once approved, if you receive back payments that cover 2023, you might need to file an amended return. But don't wait for that to happen before filing your 2023 return.

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Just wanted to update after trying taxr.ai for my situation. I was really skeptical at first but desperate since I'm also a single parent with disability issues and zero income last year. The tool analyzed my documents and showed me that I could actually file a return even with no income and claim a portion of the child tax credit. It explained exactly which forms I needed (specifically how to handle Schedule 8812) and walked me through the whole process step by step. I was able to get $1,400 that I would have completely missed out on! The tool showed me how to document my situation properly so the IRS wouldn't flag it. For anyone in a similar situation with disabilities and dependents, it's definitely worth checking out - saved me from leaving money on the table that my kid really needed.

I had the exact same issue last year trying to figure out the child tax credit with my disability situation. After getting nowhere with the IRS website, I tried calling them directly. Spent HOURS on hold, got disconnected 3 times, and when I finally got through, the person couldn't even answer my specific question! Then I found Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) - it's a service that gets you through to an actual IRS agent without the ridiculous wait. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I was connected to an IRS rep in about 20 minutes (after previously wasting days trying), and they were able to tell me exactly how to handle my disability situation with the child tax credit. They walked me through the specific forms I needed and confirmed I could file with zero income to get a portion of the credit.

I need to apologize and correct myself. After I posted that skeptical comment, I was so frustrated trying to get through to the IRS again about my own situation that I broke down and tried Claimyr. It actually worked exactly as described. I got through to an IRS representative in about 15 minutes after spending WEEKS trying on my own and constantly getting the "call volume too high" message. The agent I spoke with confirmed that even with no income, I could file a tax return and potentially qualify for a portion of the child tax credit. They explained the specific forms I needed and how to document my disability situation properly. This was information I couldn't find clearly explained anywhere else. For anyone in a similar situation with disabilities and dependents, being able to actually speak with someone at the IRS made all the difference. I'm actually getting money back that I would have completely missed.

Just to add some additional info here - if you have ANY earned income from early 2023 before your disability prevented you from working, that counts toward the $2,500 threshold. Some people forget about jobs they had just for a month or two at the beginning of the year. Also, if your disability is approved retroactively and you get a lump sum payment later, that won't help for the earned income requirement, but you'll want to file Form 915 to potentially exclude some of that lump sum from taxation in the year you receive it.

Also consider looking into whether you might qualify for the Credit for Other Dependents, which is a non-refundable credit of up to $500 per dependent who doesn't qualify for the Child Tax Credit. Even without income, establishing a filing history can be important for future benefits.