Instructions for Form 8862 - Introductory Material Future Developments What’s New How to appeal the disallowance period. Removal of Part V. Reminders Age requirements for taxpayers claiming the earned income credit (EIC) without a qualifying child. Qualifying child age requirement for the child tax credit (CTC), refundable child tax credit (RCTC), and additional child tax credit (ACTC). Delayed refund for returns claiming certain credits. Taxpayer identification number needed by due date of return. Earned income credit (EIC). Child tax credit (CTC)/ Refundable child tax credit (RCTC)/ Additional child tax credit (ACTC)/Credit for other dependents (ODC). American opportunity tax credit (AOTC). General Instructions Purpose of Form Exceptions. How to appeal the disallowance period. Have an ITIN instead of an SSN? Need more space for an item? Specific Instructions Part I—All Filers Line 1. Line 2. Part II—Earned Income Credit Line 4. Section A: Filers With a Qualifying Child or Children Line 6. Adopted child. Line 7. Section B: Filers Without a Qualifying Child or Children Line 9. Members of the military. Line 10. Part III—Child Tax Credit (Nonrefundable or Refundable)/Additional Child Tax Credit/Credit for Other Dependents Line 14. Line 15. Adopted child. Line 16. Part IV—American Opportunity Tax Credit Line 19a. Line 19b. Instructions for Form 8862 - Notices Paperwork Reduction Act Notice. Instructions for Form 8862 (10/2024) Information To Claim Certain Credits After Disallowance Section references are to the Internal Revenue Code unless otherwise noted. Revised: 10/2024 Instructions for Form 8862 - Introductory Material Section references are to the Internal Revenue Code unless otherwise noted. Future Developments For the latest information about developments related to Form 8862 and its instructions, such as legislation enacted after they were published, go to IRS.gov/Form8862. What’s New How to appeal the disallowance period. If you want to appeal the 2- or 10-year disallowance period preventing you from taking the EIC, CTC, RCTC, ACTC, ODC, or AOTC, see How to appeal the disallowance period, later. Removal of Part V. Effective beginning tax year 2024, Part V—Qualifying Child of More Than One Person has been removed from the form. Reminders Age requirements for taxpayers claiming the earned income credit (EIC) without a qualifying child. Filers without a qualifying child must be at least age 25 but under age 65 at the end of the year. For details, including different age requirements for 2021, see Line 10. Qualifying child age requirement for the child tax credit (CTC), refundable child tax credit (RCTC), and additional child tax credit (ACTC). A qualifying child for purposes of the CTC, RCTC, and ACTC must be under age 17 at the end of the year. For 2021, however, a qualifying child may be under age 18 at the end of the year. Delayed refund for returns claiming certain credits. The IRS cannot issue refunds before mid-February for returns that claim the EIC or the ACTC. This applies to the entire refund, not just the portion associated with these credits. Taxpayer identification number needed by due date of return. You must have a taxpayer identification number issued on or before the due date of the return to claim the EIC/CTC/RCTC/ACTC credit for other dependents (ODC), or American opportunity tax credit (AOTC). See below for more information on each credit. Earned income credit (EIC). If you haven't been issued a valid social security number (SSN) on or before the due date of your return (including extensions), you can't claim the EIC on either your original or amended return. Also, if your qualifying child hasn't been issued a valid SSN on or before the due date of your return (including extensions), you can't count that child in figuring the amount of your EIC on either your original or amended return. Child tax credit (CTC)/ Refundable child tax credit (RCTC)/ Additional child tax credit (ACTC)/Credit for other dependents (ODC). Your child must have the required SSN to be a qualifying child for the CTC/RCTC/ACTC. Children identified by an individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) or adoption taxpayer identification number (ATIN) are not qualifying children for the CTC, RCTC, or ACTC. If your child hasn’t been issued an SSN that is valid for employment before the due date of your return (including extensions), you cannot use the child to claim the CTC/RCTC/ACTC on either your original or amended return. Dependents used to claim the ODC must have been issued an SSN, ITIN, or ATIN on or before the due date of your return (including extensions). You must have an SSN or ITIN to claim the CTC, RCTC, ACTC, or ODC for a dependent. If you haven’t been issued an SSN or ITIN on or before the due date of your return (including extensions), you cannot claim the CTC, RCTC, ACTC, or ODC on either your original or amended return. American opportunity tax credit (AOTC). You must have an SSN or ITIN to claim the AOTC. If you haven’t been issued an SSN or ITIN on or before the due date of your return (including extensions), you cannot claim the AOTC on either your original or amended return. Also, the AOTC is not allowed on either your original or amended return for a student who hasn’t been issued an SSN, ITIN, or ATIN on or before the due date of your return (including extensions). See your tax return instructions for more information. General Instructions Purpose of Form You must complete Form 8862 and attach it to your tax return to claim the EIC, CTC, RCTC, ACTC, ODC, or AOTC if you meet the following criteria for any of the credits. IF... AND... THEN... your EIC for a year after 1996 was reduced or disallowed for any reason other than a math or clerical error you now meet all the requirements for and want to take the EIC you must file Form 8862. your CTC, RCTC, ACTC, or ODC for a year after 2015 was reduced or disallowed for any reason other than a math or clerical error you now meet all the requirements for and want to take the CTC, RCTC, ACTC, or ODC you must file Form 8862. your AOTC for a year after 2015 was reduced or disallowed for any reason other than a math or clerical error you now meet all the requirements for and want to take the AOTC you must file Form 8862. You must attach the applicable schedules and forms to your return for each credit you claim. You may be asked to provide other information before any refund claimed is issued. Exceptions. Do not file Form 8862 if: After your EIC, CTC/RCTC/ACTC/ODC, or AOTC was reduced or disallowed in an earlier year (a) you filed Form 8862 (or other documents) and your credit was then allowed, and (b) your credit has not been reduced or disallowed again for any reason other than a math or clerical error. You are claiming the EIC without a qualifying child and the only reason your EIC was reduced or disallowed in the earlier year was because it was determined that a child listed on Schedule EIC was not your qualifying child. In either of these cases, you can take the credit(s) without filing Form 8862 if you meet all the credit’s eligibility requirements. Do not file Form 8862 for the: 2 years after the most recent tax year for which there was a final determination that your EIC, CTC/RCTC/ACTC/ODC, or AOTC claim was due to reckless or intentional disregard of the rules; or 10 years after the most recent tax year for which there was a final determination that your EIC, CTC/RCTC/ACTC/ODC, or AOTC claim was due to fraud. In either of these cases, the final determination means that you cannot take the credit(s). However, if you disagree with the final determination, and want to appeal the imposition of the 2- or 10-year disallowance period, you should follow the instructions below. How to appeal the disallowance period. If you believe that you qualify for the credit(s) in a year subsequent to the final determination and during the applicable 2- or 10-year disallowance period, and you cannot take the credit due solely to the disallowance, you can appeal the final determination by claiming the credit(s) on your return and attaching Form 8862. You will need to file a paper return. After filing, you will receive a math error notice disallowing the credit due to the disallowance period. You must contact the IRS and challenge this disallowance within 60 days of the date of the math error notice. After you challenge the math error notice, you will receive a notice of deficiency that will provide you the ability to appeal the denial of the credit to the Tax Court. Have an ITIN instead of an SSN? You must have a valid SSN to claim the EIC. An SSN is valid for the EIC unless it was issued after the due date of the tax return for which you are filing this form (including extensions) or it was issued solely to apply for or receive a federally funded benefit and does not authorize you to work. You can have an ITIN instead of an SSN to claim the CTC, RCTC, ACTC, ODC, or AOTC. If you have an ITIN, enter your ITIN in the "social security number" space on the form. Need more space for an item? If you need more space for an item, attach a statement to the end of your return that includes your name and SSN (or ITIN). Number each entry on the statement to correspond with the line number on Form 8862. Specific Instructions Part I—All Filers Line 1. Enter the year for which you are filing this form to claim the credit(s) (for example, 2024). Do not enter the year the credit(s) was disallowed. Line 2. Check the box(es) that applies to the credit(s) you are now claiming. You can check a box for each credit that was previously reduced or disallowed. Part II—Earned Income Credit Line 4. If you (or your spouse if filing jointly) were a qualifying child of another taxpayer for the year shown on line 1, you cannot claim the EIC. Check “Yes” on line 4. This is true even if the taxpayer for whom you (or your spouse if filing jointly) are a qualifying child does not claim the EIC or meet all of the rules to claim the EIC. For more information, see Pub. 596, Earned Income Credit. Check "No" on line 4 if you could be claimed as a qualifying child of another taxpayer for the year shown on line 1 but the other taxpayer is not required to file, and is not filing, a tax return for that year or is filing it only to claim a refund of withheld income tax or estimated tax paid. Section A: Filers With a Qualifying Child or Children If you are married but not filing a joint return and you have a qualifying child, you may qualify to claim the EIC. For more information, see the instructions for line 27 in the Form 1040 instructions and Schedule EIC (Form 1040). Line 6. A qualifying child for the EIC is a child who: Is your son, daughter, stepchild, foster child, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, half brother, half sister, or a descendant of any of them (for example, your grandchild, niece, or nephew); Was (a) under age 19 at the end of the year on line 1 and younger than you (or your spouse if filing jointly), (b) under age 24 at the end of the year on line 1, a student, and younger than you (or your spouse if filing jointly), or (c) any age and permanently and totally disabled; Lived with you in the United States for more than half the year on line 1; and Meets the joint return test. Your child meets the joint return test if they are not filing a joint return with their spouse for the year on line 1 or are filing a joint return only to claim a refund of withheld income tax or estimated tax paid. Adopted child. An adopted child is always treated as your own child. An adopted child includes a child lawfully placed with you for legal adoption. For more information on who is a qualifying child, see your tax return instructions or Pub. 596. Line 7. You cannot take the credit for a child who lived with you for half of the year or less, even if you paid most of the child's living expenses. The IRS may ask you for documents to show you lived with each qualifying child. Documents you might want to keep for this purpose include school and child care records and other records that show your child's address. Temporary absences by you or the child for special circumstances such as school, vacation, business, medical care, military service, or detention in a juvenile facility count as time the child lived with you. If your child was born or died during the year entered on line 1 and your home was the child's home for more than half the time your child was alive during that year, enter "365" ("366" if the year is a leap year) on line 7 and complete line 8. For more information, see your tax return instructions or Pub. 596. Section B: Filers Without a Qualifying Child or Children Line 9. Enter the number of days that your main home (and your spouse's if filing jointly) was in the United States during the year on line 1. Temporary absences for special circumstances such as for business, medical care, school, or military service count as time lived at your main home. Members of the military. If you were on extended active duty outside the United States, your main home is considered to be in the United States during that duty period. Extended active duty is military duty ordered for an indefinite period or for a period of more than 90 days. Once you begin serving extended active duty, you are considered to be on extended active duty even if you do not serve more than 90 days. Line 10. To claim the EIC, either you (or your spouse if filing jointly) must be at least age 25 but under age 65 at the end of the year. However, for 2021 only, there is no applicable maximum age and the applicable minimum age is age 19 unless one of the following two exceptions applies: In the case of a specified student (other than a qualified former foster youth or a qualified homeless youth), the applicable minimum age is age 24; and In the case of a qualified former foster youth or a qualified homeless youth, the applicable minimum age is age 18. If neither you (nor your spouse if filing jointly) were at least age 25 but under age 65 at the end of the year entered on line 1, unless that year is 2021, you cannot claim the EIC. For more information, see Pub. 596, Earned Income Credit. If your spouse died during the year on line 1, or you are preparing a return for someone who died during the year on line 1, the age test is met if your spouse, or the deceased taxpayer, met the applicable minimum age at the time of death. Your spouse, or the deceased taxpayer, is considered to reach the minimum age on the day before their birthday. However, the rule for reaching age 65 is different; your spouse, or the deceased taxpayer, reaches age 65 on their 65th birthday. Example 1. You are married and filing a joint return for 2024 with your spouse who died in August 2024. You are age 67. Your spouse would have become age 65 in November 2024. Because your spouse was under age 65 when they died, you meet the age test. Example 2. Your spouse was born on February 14, 1999, and died on February 13, 2024. Your spouse is considered age 25 at the time of death. However, if your spouse died on February 12, 2024, your spouse isn't considered age 25 at the time of death and isn't at least age 25 at the end of 2024. Part III—Child Tax Credit (Nonrefundable or Refundable)/Additional Child Tax Credit/Credit for Other Dependents Line 14. Generally, a child must live with you for more than half of the year for you to claim the credit. A child is considered to have lived with you for more than half of the year if the child was born or died during the year on line 1 and your home was this child's home for more than half the time the child was alive. Temporary absences by you or the child for special circumstances such as school, vacation, business, medical care, military service, or detention in a juvenile facility count as time the child lived with you. However, there are exceptions for kidnapped children and children of divorced or separated parents. If you meet one of these exceptions, answer "Yes" to question 14 for that child. For details, see your tax return instructions. Line 15. A qualifying child for purposes of the CTC, RCTC, and ACTC is a child who: Is your son, daughter, stepchild, foster child, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, half brother, half sister, or a descendant of any of them (for example, your grandchild, niece, or nephew); Was under age 17 at the end of the year. For 2021, however, a qualifying child may be under age 18 at the end of the year; Did not provide over half of their own support for the year; Lived with you for more than half of the year; Is claimed as a dependent on your return; Does not file a joint return for the year (or files it only to claim a refund of withheld income tax or estimated tax paid); and Was a U.S. citizen, a U.S. national, or a U.S. resident alien. See Pub. 519 for the definition of a U.S. national or U.S. resident alien. Adopted child. An adopted child is always treated as your own child. An adopted child includes a child lawfully placed with you for legal adoption. For more information on who is a qualifying child, see your tax return instructions. Line 16. You cannot claim the CTC/RCTC/ACTC/ODC for a person who is not your dependent. See your tax return instructions for more information. Part IV—American Opportunity Tax Credit Line 19a. An eligible student for purposes of the AOTC is a student for whom you pay qualified education expenses and meets all of the following requirements. The student did not have expenses that were used to figure an AOTC in any 4 earlier tax years. This includes any tax year(s) in which the Hope scholarship credit was claimed for the same student. The student had not completed the first 4 years of post-secondary education (generally the freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior years of college) before the year on line 1. For at least one academic period beginning in the year on line 1 (or the first 3 months of the following year if the qualified expenses were paid in the previous year), the student was enrolled at least half-time in a program leading to a degree, certificate, or other recognized educational credential. The student has not been convicted of any federal or state felony for possessing or distributing a controlled substance as of the end of the year on line 1. See Pub. 970 and the Instructions for Form 8863 for more information. Line 19b. If the AOTC has been claimed for a student for any 4 tax years before the year on line 1 (including any year for which the Hope scholarship credit was claimed for the student), the AOTC cannot be claimed for this student for the year on line 1. You cannot claim the AOTC based on qualified education expenses paid for a student by someone other than yourself or your spouse, unless you are claiming the student as a dependent. Instructions for Form 8862 - Notices Paperwork Reduction Act Notice. We ask for you to obtain the information on this form to carry out the Internal Revenue laws of the United States. You are required to obtain this information. You are not required to obtain the information requested on a form that is subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act unless the form displays a valid OMB control number. Books or records relating to a form or its instructions must be retained as long as their contents may become material in the administration of any Internal Revenue law. Generally, tax returns and return information are confidential, as required by Internal Revenue Code section 6103. The average time and expenses required to complete and file this form will vary depending on individual circumstances. For the estimated averages, see the instructions for your income tax return. If you have comments concerning the accuracy of these time estimates or suggestions for making this form simpler, we would be happy to hear from you. See the instructions for the tax return with which this form is filed.
