MAKING THE MOST OF THE ENHANCED CHILD TAX CREDIT
Nearly every family is eligible to receive the expanded Child Tax Credit, including families that haven’t filed a tax return previously and families that don’t have recent income. But you need to fill out a tax return this year to ensure you get your money.
Each qualifying household is eligible to receive up to $3,600 for each child under 6 years old, and $3,000 for each child between 6 and 17 years old.
The credit is not a loan. The Child Tax Credit may either increase your tax refund or help to lower your tax bill. Even families that don’t normally file a tax return and families that have recent income can still get the full Child Tax Credit.
If you have a child with a Social Security number (SSN), you can get the CTC even if you don’t have a Social Security number.
Families who already received monthly advance payments in 2021 will get the second half of the money in 2022 when they file a tax return. Families who didn’t receive monthly payments last year will get the full amount when they file a tax return.
Those who received payments in 2021 will receive Letter 6419 that provides information on the amount of advance Child Tax Credit the family received from July-December 2021. The information in this letter will be used to figure your child tax credit on your 2021 return when it is processed by a VITA volunteer.
Failure to include information from Letter 6419 will result in your return being denied by the IRS and require that your return be re-submitted by mail causing a significant delay to any tax refunds you may be entitled to. More information about Letter 6419 is available at Understanding Your Letter 6419 | Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov)
More information about the Child Tax Credit is included on this information page provided by the IRS: Advance Child Tax Credit Payments in 2021 | Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov). Please refer to it if you need more details.
Please note that the VITA volunteer who prepares your return has been trained to calculate any Child Tax Credit you may be entitled to. Please make sure to include the information required with your other tax documents when you come to your appointment.
Other Credits You May Qualify For: If you qualify for the EITC, you may also qualify for other tax credits. Follow these links for more information and be sure to include the necessary documents with your tax-related documents you drop off at the preparation site.
