Tax year 2021/filing season 2022 Child Tax Credit frequently asked questions — Topic E: Commonly asked immigration-related questions

A1. Yes. You — and your spouse, if married filing a joint return — must have a Social Security number (SSN) or an IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to be eligible for the Child Tax Credit. You can claim the Child Tax Credit for each qualifying child who has an SSN that is valid for employment in the United States.

A2. Yes. For your child to qualify you for the Child Tax Credit, your child must have a Social Security number (SSN) that is valid for employment.

Therefore, if your child does not have an SSN that is valid for employment, you are not eligible to claim the Child Tax Credit for that child.

Note: If your child does not have an SSN that is valid for employment, you may be eligible to claim the Credit for Other Dependents for that child.

The Credit for Other Dependents is a tax credit available to taxpayers for each of their dependents who was a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or U.S. resident alien in 2021 but can't be claimed for the Child Tax Credit. The maximum credit amount is $500 for each dependent. But the credit can only reduce your tax and provides no benefit if you don't have any tax. Claim the credit with your Child Tax Credit, if any, on Schedule 8812, Credits for Qualifying Children and Other Dependents PDF.

A3. For qualifying children, the Social Security number (SSN) must be valid for employment in the United States and issued by the Social Security Administration (SSA) before the due date of your 2021 tax return (including an extension if the extension was requested by the due date).

• If an individual was a U.S. citizen when he or she received the SSN, then it is valid for employment in the United States.

• If "Not Valid for Employment" is printed on the individual's Social Security card and the individual's immigration status has changed so that he or she is now a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, ask the SSA for a new Social Security card.

• If "Valid for Work Only With DHS Authorization" is printed on the individual's Social Security card, the individual has the required SSN only as long as the Department of Homeland Security authorization is valid.

A4. No. Under current law, receiving the Child Tax Credit or other Federal tax credits that you are eligible for will not affect your immigration status, your ability to get a green card, or your future eligibility for immigration benefits. Use of Federal tax credits is not considered for purposes of a "public charge" determination by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

A5. No. Having DACA does not affect your eligibility. If you and your child satisfy all eligibility requirements, you can claim your child for the Child Tax Credit.

A6. Yes. Your eligibility is not affected by your child being a DACA recipient. If your child has a Social Security number (SSN) that is valid for employment, and you and your child satisfy all other eligibility requirements, you are eligible for the Child Tax Credit.