The US federal government (and particularly the IRS) doesn't know what kids you do or don't have. Millions of American kids vanished when the IRS decided that

The US federal government (and particularly the IRS) doesn't know what kids you do or don't have. Millions of American kids vanished when the IRS decided that to claim a kid you must provide a valid SSN. [1] https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/declaration-of-non-dependents/#:~:text=Starting%20in%201987%2C%20the%20I.R.S.%20required%20that%20taxpayers,and%20%242.9%20billion%20more%20in%20yearly%20tax%20revenue https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/declaration-of-non-depende....