Make the Most of the Child Tax Credit

In some cases, the Child Tax Credit can be claimed for a qualifying child who otherwise is not a dependent and therefore is not listed on the tax return; for example, the taxpayer who has the "qualifying child" is a dependent of another taxpayer. In these cases, Form 8901 must be completed and submitted along with the 1040.

Regardless of the form, be sure to include your children's tax identification numbers on the return. Without that information, the credit is automatically disallowed.

Additional information, examples and sample worksheets can be found in IRS Publication 972, Child Tax Credit.