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Can I receive a tax refund even if I haven't paid US tax?

· EXPAT,EDUCATION CREDIT,COVID STIMULUS,CHILD CREDIT

Yes, for the reasons below.

The federal governement issued COVID stimulus payments in 2020 and 2021 which all American citizens and Permenent Residents were entilted to. If you didn't receive these payments they can be recovered by filing a 2020 and 2021 tax return. Unless things change, the deadline to recover the USD 1800 payment from 2020 is April 15, 2024; and the deadline to recover the 2021 stimulus payment is April 15, 2025.

If you work and have children who are American citizens with social security numbers, you will be eligible to receive the ACTC, and possibly the EITC in 2022. These are refundable tax credits with typical values ranging from $1500 to $5,233 per child.

If you were self-employed and had to miss work to care for yourself or your children, the days spent away from work can also be compensated--even if you live and work outside of the states.

Finally, if you supported yourself or an American child attaining a bachelor's degree in the US or at a qualified foreign university, you could be eligible for the AOTC, a credit with a maximum value of USD 1000 per year.