TexTaxToo

There is no question about that. There must be a different qualifying child for each HOH. That is the case under the proposed rules. As far as I know, they have not yet been finalized. That means you can rely on them if they support what you want to do, but do not have to rely on them if there is support for what you want to do under the current regulations. So you have plenty of support for the father claiming HOH. For the mother last year, not so much.

Under proposed rules, the tie-breaker rules will make a difference in who can claim head of household: https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2017-01056/p-110

There are instructions for returning the payment: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/questions-and-answers-about-the-third-economic-impact-payment-topic-i-returning-the-third-economic-impact-payment However, they do not say why or when you should do so. I guess if someone just doesn't want the money, they can return it.

For EIP3 (unlike EIP1 and EIP2), the law says that the IRS should try to prevent multiple payments for the same person "to the maximum extent administratively practicable". I assume they will use SSN to track payments and not allow RRC for anyone for whom EIP3 was paid, even if they are now a dependent on a different return. I don't see a similar provision for CTC and advanced CTC, so it will be interesting to see what the IRS does.

The way I read it, there is forgiveness of up to $2000 per "ghost" child for MAGI < $40,000 ($50k HOH, $60k MFJ). There is no forgiveness for MAGI > $80,000 ($100k HOH, $120k MFJ), and forgiveness phases out in-between. (I'm calling a child for whom advanced payments are received but who is not claimed on the 2021 return a "ghost" child.) Since the advanced payments should be $1500 per child ($1800 if under age 6), that would forgive everything for low-income parents. I've heard that the IRS wants to prevent divorced parents who alternately claim a child from getting paid tw

Are you talking about the change to allow more PTC, and PTC for those over 400%? Those changes only apply to tax years 2021 and 2022. The change to allow PTC for anyone getting unemployment applies only to tax year 2021. I doubt there will be a form revision for 2020.

ARPA only provided the exclusion "In the case of any taxable year beginning in 2020"

This is the website link to IR-2021-84: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-suspends-requirement-to-repay-excess-advance-payments-of-the-2020-premium-tax-credit-those-claiming-net-premium-tax-credit-must-file-form-8962

This may help: https://www.irs.gov/individuals/additional-itin-information

I don't know the answer, but am curious about the type of visa she had. Was it J-1? (or H1-B or something else?)

If TP B filed 2019 with 2 children before EIP1 was calculated, they would qualify for $2200 based on 2019. Since TP A had not yet filed 2019, they apparently got half of the amount based on 2018, or $1950, as BP said. TP A can trace the payment they say they did not get: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/questions-and-answers-about-the-first-economic-impact-payment-topic-f-payment-issued-but-lost-stolen-destroyed-or-not-received#qf3

The IRS has now updated their FAQs to say that taxpayers with ITINs can indeed receive EIP3 for any dependents with SSNs: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/questions-and-answers-about-the-third-economic-impact-payment-topic-b-eligibility-and-calculation-of-the-third-payment The last question:

I don't have one to try, but I got an alert that this is now fixed and direct debit dates after 4/15 will work (as long as your software allows them).

I read that the money would run out in a couple weeks, so without further Congressional action, the extension doesn't mean much.

Yes, just like scholarship income. (Scholarship income has the advantage that it is treated as earned income for the purpose of determining a filing requirement - but once there is a filing requirement, it is unearned income for the kiddie tax. I believe the 1099-Q income would be unearned for all purposes.)