Is there a MINIMUM amount of earned income needed to qualify for the Child Tax Credit?

Question

I am a homemaker who worked a little in 2007. My earned income wages only total a couple hundred dollars. I'm wondering if I made too little to qualify for the Child Tax Credit? I've searched and searched, but all I can find are the maximum income limits but no minimums. Thanks much!

Answer 1

You must have at least $1 of tax liability to get any benefit from the CTC.  

How much income that will take will depend upon your individual tax situation.  You'd have to provide a lot more information to give you any kind of a realistic estimate.

Answer 2

If you're a single parent, then you can also get the Earned Income Credit in addition to the Child Tax Credit.  That's quite a nice amount if you only made a few hundred dollars in income.

If you do not owe sufficient taxes to get the full child tax credit, you can also apply for the "additional child tax credit" by completing Form 8812.

Answer 3

Not enough if your income is all there is.  Child tax credit reduces your tax by $1,000 per child.  If you have no tax, you have nothing to apply a credit to.