Ok, first, our family pays no taxes. We're a single-income family, I'm fairly low- to middle-income and we have four kids. So I do no withholding at all, and with all the child tax credits, I walk away every April with a $6,000 check from uncle sam. Yes, I think it's odd, and I've never been entirely comfortable with it, but what the heck, I'm not going to turn down free money.

So here's my question. We're considering adopting another child. It's expensive - it'll run about $10,000 - but we've been told that you can get an adoption tax credit for up to $13,000, so most of your money will come back to you.

Well, I need to know if that will apply to me, given my unique situation. Is that simply a reduction of taxes which you would otherwise pay, such that - since I don't pay taxes anyway - it wouldn't help me at all? Or is that like the child tax credit, where (as I understand it), if your credit exceeds your tax liability, the IRS will actually cut you a check for the difference? In the latter case, I might get a check for, say, $16,000 instead of $6,000, which would cover most of the adoption fees.

Any help would be appreciated. I need to know quick, because we need to make a decision soon. Thanks! (Please let me know your qualifications when you answer.)