M1CWFC: Minnesota Child and Working Family Credits (2024)
Minnesota · Minnesota DOR · Used for tax years 2024
Schedule M1CWFC calculates your Minnesota Working Family Credit and Child Tax Credit for 2024. It also lets you elect advance payments of your 2025 Child Tax Credit and calculates those payments and your 2025 Minimum Credit. Include this schedule with Form M1.
Who files this form
Use Schedule M1CWFC to figure your Minnesota Working Family Credit and Child Tax Credit for tax year 2024, and advance Child Tax Credit payments and the Minimum Credit for 2025.
To claim the 2024 credits:
- You must have been a full-year or part-year Minnesota resident. Full-year nonresidents are not eligible. Special residency rules apply to military personnel stationed outside the United States on extended active duty.
- You cannot be another person's dependent or qualifying child.
- You must have investment income below $11,600. If it is greater than $11,600, the text directs you to complete step 2 in the instructions for line 27 of federal Form 1040 to check eligibility.
- If you have no qualifying children on rows 10 and 11 of Schedule M1DQC, you or your spouse must be between ages 19 and 64, and both you and your spouse's main residence must have been in the United States for more than half of 2024.
- If you are married and either spouse is a nonresident alien, you must file jointly.
Do not complete this schedule if you have a 2-year or 10-year IRS ban, or are otherwise restricted from claiming the federal Earned Income Credit.
Married filing separately: You must have at least one qualifying child on Schedule M1DQC who lived with you for more than half of 2024. You must also either have lived apart from your spouse for at least the last six months of 2024, or be legally separated under Minnesota law through a written separation agreement or decree of separate maintenance and live in separate households at the end of 2024. Check the exception box on the schedule.
When it's due
- Tax year 2024 return, election for 2025 advance payments: You must file your original return on or before April 15 to elect advance payments of your 2025 Child Tax Credit. You must also have qualifying children under age 17 at the end of 2024.
- 2025 advance payment timing: Payments begin after July 1 and are made in three equal amounts.
The supplied text does not state a general filing deadline for claiming the 2024 credits.
What you'll need
Have these forms and details available:
- Form M1: You need the amount from line 1.
- Schedule M1DQC, Dependents and Qualifying Children: You must complete it to identify qualifying children and qualifying older children.
- Federal Form 1040 or 1040-SR: The earned income worksheet uses line 1z. Certain self-employed filers, clergy, church employees and statutory employees must also use federal EIC Worksheet B.
- Schedule M1REF: This is where you report the credit and child counts.
- Schedule M1NR: Part-year residents use it to calculate their credit.
- Identification information: The schedule asks for your name and Social Security number. An ITIN may be used to claim the credits if you, your spouse on a joint return, or your qualifying children do not have Social Security numbers.
- Bank details, if requesting direct deposit of advance payments: Provide the account type, routing number and account number on line 24.
How to file
Include Schedule M1CWFC with your Form M1. The supplied text does not give a mailing address or e-filing instructions.
- Complete Schedule M1DQC to determine your qualifying children and qualifying older children.
- Use your 2024 earned income to complete the earned income worksheet and line 2.
- Complete Section 1 to calculate the credits. Full-year residents enter line 15 on line 2 of Schedule M1REF. Part-year residents use line 16 and its instructions.
- Enter the number of qualifying children on line 2a of Schedule M1REF and qualifying older children on line 2b.
- To elect advance payments of your 2025 Child Tax Credit, check the election box and complete Section 2. Provide bank information on line 24 if requesting direct deposit.
Common mistakes
- Using income from another year: The earned income worksheet must use your 2024 earned income.
- Missing rounding instructions: Round dollar amounts to the nearest whole dollar. Lines 18 and 21 call for rounding to five decimal places.
- Skipping part-year resident calculations: If your Minnesota gross income is below $14,575, fully complete Schedule M1NR, including lines 16 through 27, and use the Worksheet for Line 16. If step 3 of that worksheet is zero or less, stop. You do not qualify for the credit.
- Trying to elect advance payments on an amended return: You cannot make a new election on an amended return. If an amendment changes your Child Tax Credit, you will no longer receive advance payments of your 2025 credit.
- Overlooking the later filing requirement: Electing 2025 advance payments requires you to file a 2025 Minnesota income tax return, even if you otherwise would not need to file or no longer have qualifying children. Excess advance payments must be repaid.
- Entering invalid bank details: The routing number must have nine digits. The account number may have up to 17 numbers and letters, with no hyphens, spaces or symbols. Use an account not associated with foreign banks.
Questions people ask
Can I claim a credit if I have no earned income?
Yes. You may claim the credit for qualifying older children and the Child Tax Credit even if you have no earned income.
How much is the 2024 Minnesota Child Tax Credit?
It is $1,750 for each qualifying child under age 18, before applicable reductions. Use Schedule M1DQC to determine who qualifies.
Can I claim these credits with an ITIN?
Yes. If you, your spouse when filing jointly, or your qualifying children do not have Social Security numbers, you may use Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers to claim the credits.
Could I have to repay advance payments?
Yes. On your 2025 Minnesota return, you must compare the advance payments received with your eligible credit. Any excess is added to your tax due and reduces your refund or increases your tax liability.
Can advance payments affect SNAP benefits?
Yes. Advance Child Tax Credit payments may affect SNAP eligibility or benefits. Receiving the Child Tax Credit with your return during tax filing season will not affect SNAP eligibility or benefit amounts. For more information, contact the SNAP center at 1-800-657-3698 or visit dcyf.mn.gov/snap-ctc.