Families Could Get $1,800 per Child Tax Credit, but Must Register Now
Low-income families who are eligible for the monthly expanded child tax credit have until the end of today (November 15) to register.
The credit is $3,600 annually for children under the age of 6 and $3,000 for those aged between 6 and 17.
Six months of payments were advanced on a monthly basis through the end of 2021, with eligible families receiving $300 monthly for each child under the age of 6 and $250 per child over 6.
Eligible families were automatically enrolled into the monthly payments based on their 2020 tax returns.
But those whose incomes were too low that they were not required to file returns have to sign up with the Internal Revenue Service to receive the payments. They include people who earned less than $12,400, less than $24,800 as a married couple or less than $18,500 as a head of household.
They have until 11:59 ET on November 15 to sign up to receive the advance payments and can do so by visiting the online portal on the IRS website.
That will direct families to GetCTC.org, a non-filer sign-up tool built by the nonprofit Code for America in collaboration with the Biden administration.
Families can sign up in either English or Spanish, and will need their Social Security numbers, a reliable mailing address, email address or phone number as well as their bank account information (if they want to receive their payment by direct deposit) to complete the process.
According to the IRS, families who sign up before the deadline can get all the money they are owed this year in one payment on December 15. This means a family can get a payment of up to $1,800 for each child under 6 or up to $1,500 per child over 6 in time for Christmas.
Families who receive advance payments of the child tax credit in 2021 can claim the rest of the credit when they file their 2021 income tax return.
Those who miss Monday's deadline will need to claim their full child tax credit when they file their taxes in 2022.
The child tax credit was expanded under President Joe Biden's American Rescue Plan in March in a bid to reduce child poverty. The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy estimated it would benefit around 83 million children and significantly reduce child poverty in the U.S.
The latest round of the monthly child tax credit payments is scheduled to be distributed on Monday.
The enhanced child tax credit could be extended through 2022 under the Build Back Better Act that congressional Democrats are currently negotiating.
