Question

Can I file for the year2017 for my grandaughter I'm on dissability and she did not work that year I took care of her?

Forum|Forum|5 years ago
May 21, 2021
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Employee

What do you mean by "file for my grandaughter?" There are a couple of things---first----it is too late now to receive a 2017 refund unless you already had an extension to file for 2017. So you cannot get any refund for claiming her unless back in 2018 you got an extension to file 2017.

And...if your income is disability and no tax is being withheld from it, then there would have been no tax benefit to claiming a dependent for 2017----you would not receive anything if you did not have tax withheld.

**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**

Hal_Al

Employee

The money you hear about people getting for just filing a tax return claiming kids requires them to have some earned income (wages or self employment). Without earned income, they are not eligible for the "refundable" Earned Income Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit. Both credits are calculated on the amount of earned income you have. No earned income means no "refund". A small amount of earned income means a small refund. The child tax credit does not "kick in" unless you have at least $2500 of earned income ($3000 back in 2017).