About the Federal Child Tax Credit
This year, as part of the American Rescue Plan, the federal Child Tax Credit (CTC) is significantly increased and half of it will be available through direct monthly payments.
- For each child under the age of 6, the credit is $3,600: Your family can receive $300 a month between July and December and the remaining $1,800 when you file your taxes next year.
- For each child between the ages 6-17, the credit is $3,000: Your family can receive $250 a month between July and December and the remaining $1500 when you file your taxes next year.
- Receiving the CTC will not affect any public benefits that you receive (SNAP, MFIP, etc.), your immigration status, or your ability to get a green card.
Eligibility
You can receive the Child Tax Credit if you have children under 18, even if you make little or no money. Joint filers making up to $150,000, single head of households making up to $112,500, and other single filers making up to $75,000 are likely eligible for the full CTC.
Getting the Federal Child Tax Credit
If you have filed tax returns for 2019 or 2020, or if you signed up to receive a stimulus check in 2020, the IRS will automatically send you monthly payments.
If you did not have to file your taxes this year or last year, and you did not register for Economic Impact Payments last year, you must sign up for the CTC payments. Go to ChildTaxCredit.gov and click on the “Non-Filer Sign-Up” link.
For more information visit childtaxcredit.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Social Security number (SSN) to be eligible for the CTC?
Children must have an SSN to be eligible for the CTC. Parents are not required to have an SSN, but they must have an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to claim the CTC for their eligible children.
How will I receive the CTC payments?
The IRS will send your payments on the 15th of each month by direct deposit to the bank account they have on file. If they don’t have bank account information for you, a check will be mailed to you. If you need to add or change bank account information, you can do that through the IRS’s Child Tax Credit Update Portal.
Will I lose out if I can’t sign up in time to get a payment on July 15?
No. Everyone will receive the full CTC benefits they are owed. If you sign up for monthly payments later in the year, your remaining monthly payments will be larger to reflect the payments you missed. If you do not sign-up in time for monthly payments in 2021, you will receive the full benefit when you file your tax return in 2022.
Beware of people who are scamming!
If anyone calls, emails or texts you to say they can help you get your CTC payments earlier or get you more money, that’s a scam and they are after your money. The Federal Trade Commission wants you to know:
- Only the IRS will be sending payments via direct deposit, debit card or paper check.
- The government will never call, text, email or private message you asking for money or personal information.
- Nobody will ever demand you pay by gift card, wire transfer or cryptocurrency. That’s a scam.