How Does The Stimulus Child Tax Credit Work

How Does The Enhanced Child Tax Credit Work

The new system provides a refundable tax credit of $3,000 for children aged from 6-17 and $3,600 for children who are under the age of six for the 2021 fiscal year. Families could receive a payment of $300 per child under 6 and/or $250 per child under 18 per month. The provision calls for the payments to go out monthly starting 1 July, through December although the IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig told Congress that the agencymight not have the resources to meet that date or even send the payments monthly. The bill contemplated that sending the payments monthly might be too tall an order for the IRS to meet.

Ideally families would receive half of the credit in 2021 through direct payments, similar to how the $1,400 stimulus checks in the same bill are sent. If the payments were to begin in July, the American Rescue Plan Act calls for that half of the credit to be paid in advance by December. The remainder, $1,800/$1,500 per child, would be available to families as a rebate when they file their 2021 income-tax filing in 2022.

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Returning An Advance Payment

Question:I received an advance child tax credit payment from the IRS, although I know that I’m not eligible for the money. How do I return the funds?

Answer: The process for returning erroneously received child tax credit payments is similar to that used for ineligible taxpayers to send back 2020 and 2021 stimulus payments that they got. If the payment was in the form of a paper check you haven’t cashed, write “Void” on the endorsement section on the back and mail it to IRS with a written explanation for returning the check. If you cashed the check or received a direct deposit, mail a check or money order payable to “US Treasury,” write “Advance CTC” and your Social Security number on the memo line, and include a brief reason for the payment. See the table below for the proper address to send a check.

Qualifying For The Higher Credit Amount

Question: Do all families qualify for the higher per-child tax credit of $3,000 or $3,600?

Answer: No, not all families with children get the higher child tax credit, but most will. The enhanced tax break begins to phase out at modified AGIs of $75,000 on single returns, $112,500 on head-of-household returns and $150,000 on joint returns. The amount of the credit is reduced by $50 for each $1,000 of modified AGI over the applicable threshold amount. Note that this phaseout is limited to the $1,000 or $1,600 temporary increased credit for 2021 and not to the $2,000 credit.

For example, if a married couple has one child who is four years old, files a joint return, and has a modified AGI of $160,000 for 2021, they won’t get the full $3,600 enhanced credit. Instead, since their modified AGI is $10,000 above the phase-out threshold for joint filers , their credit is reduced by $500 resulting in a final 2021 credit of $3,100.

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Advance Child Tax Credit

Even if you dont pay any taxes, you may qualify for a refund of the CTC.

The CTC was expanded under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 for tax year 2021 only. If you are eligible, you should have begun receiving advance Child Tax Credit payments on July 15. The payments will continue monthly through December 2021. Under ARPA, families are eligible to receive:

• Up to $3,000 per qualifying child between ages 6 and 17
• Up to $3,600 per qualifying child under age 6

The Internal Revenue Service began sending out letters in early June to more than 36 million families who may be eligible for the monthly payments. Most families do not need to do anything to get their payments, as long as theyve filed their 2020 or 2019 tax return. Learn more about the letter and how it can help you determine your eligibility.

Not Required To File Tax Returns

Question: I do not file tax returns because my income is below the threshold required to file. Will I still qualify for the advance monthly payments?

Answer: Yes, but you’ll have to jump through a few hoops if you didn’t use the IRS’s online tool for non-filers in 2020 to provide information to the tax agency for purposes of qualifying for stimulus payments. That tool was called the “Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here” portal.

There are two main options for individuals not required to file returns because their income is below the filing threshold. One way is to use the IRS’s Non-Filer Sign-Up Tool on the agency’s website. If you want your payments directly deposited into your bank account, which is faster than getting a paper check, you can also provide your account information through the tool. If you use the Non-Filer Sign-Up Tool, you’ll be asked to provide personal information such as your name, address, email, date of birth, and Social Security number . If you want your payments by direct deposit, you’ll also have to give your bank account number, account type and routing number.

A second option is the mobile-friendly, bilingual application created by the nonprofit Code for America, with the collaboration of the White House and the Treasury Department. It will ask you for the same information as the IRS’s Non-Filer Sign-Up Tool. Go to www.getctc.org to see this product, which is available in English or Spanish.

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The American Rescue Plan Enhanced And Expanded The Child Tax Credit Making It Available To More Americans With Lower Incomes By Removing The Earnings Floor

What might be one of the most consequential features of President Joe Bidens $1.9 trillion covid-19 relief bill enacted in March could be the changes to the Child Tax Credit. For the 2021 fiscal year families will be able to take advantage of an increased fully-refundable tax credit available to more households. The bill envisioned part of that credit being sent out as monthly payments, starting in July.

The enhanced Child Tax Credit will no longer require households to earn at least $2,500 to begin to see the benefits from the credit. This will mean that families who have no income will be able to take advantage of the tax provision. This could see US child poverty nearly halved and bring some financial stability to many families raising children.

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I Havent Received My Advance Payment What Do I Do

You can check to see if and where your advance payment has been issued on the Child Tax Credit Update Portal.

If your payment has been issued, you can request a payment trace to track your payment. The IRS will be able to track your payment after you wait:

• 5 days since the deposit date and the bank says it hasnt received the payment
• 4 weeks since the payment was mailed by check to a standard address
• 6 weeks since the payment was mailed, and you have a forwarding address on file with the local post office
• 9 weeks since the payment was mailed, and you have a foreign address

To start a payment trace, mail or fax a completed Form 3911, Taxpayer Statement Regarding Refund.

Is The Advance Income

The advance payments are not income. They are a tax credit that is being paid early instead of you having to wait until you file your tax return. There is no tax on these payments.

Disclaimer: This blog post and the comments provide generalized information that may be out of date or inaccurate for your situation. Always schedule a personal consultation with an appropriate licensed professional in your area before taking action.

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Child Tax Credit Expansion Would Greatly Benefit Us Territories

The Build Back Better legislation would also provide its Child Tax Credit expansions to all the U.S. territories. Child poverty is much higher there, making these expansions sorely needed. To ensure the Child Tax Credit reaches all eligible families, the territories would need support to make people aware of the expansions, given the steep economic challenges, language barriers, and other obstacles to enrollment they face. The territories face economic challenges that have left local government agencies without the necessary funding and staffing to aid outreach efforts.

What If I Share Custody Of My Child Who Will Get To Claim The 2021 Child Tax Credit And Advance Payments

Only one person whoever lives with the child for more than half the year can claim the CTC. If you claimed your child on your 2020 tax return , starting in July 2021 you should have automatically begun receiving half of the new CTC through advance payments. You will receive the rest of the CTC when you file a 2021 tax return in 2022.

For more detailed information, view this guide on the Child Tax Credit and divorced, unmarried, separated, and non-custodial parents and guardians.

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People Have Lots Of Questions About The $3000 Or $3600 Child Tax Credit And The Advance Payments That The Irs Is Sending Monthly To Most Families And We Have Answers

The child tax credit is bigger and better than ever for 2021. The credit amount is significantly increased for one year, and the IRS is making monthly advance payments to qualifying families from July through December.

But the changes are complicated and don’t help everyone. For instance, there are now two ways in which the credit can be reduced for upper-income families. That means some parents don’t qualify for a larger credit and, as before, some won’t receive any credit at all. More children qualify for the credit in 2021. And, next year, when you file your 2021 tax return, you will have to reconcile the advance payments you received with the actual child tax credit you are entitled to.

It’s all enough to make your head spin. But don’t worry we have answers to a lot of the questions parents are asking about the 2021 child credit. We also have a handy 2021 Child Tax Credit Calculator that lets you estimate the amount of your credit and the expected advance payments. Once you read through the FAQs below and try out the calculator, you should feel more at ease about the 2021 credit.

Question: What were the rules for the 2020 child tax credit?

Up to $1,400 of the child credit is refundable for some lower-income individuals with children. However, you must also have at least $2,500 of earned income to get a refund.

Question: What changes did Congress make to the child tax credit?

Opting Out Of Advance Payments

Question: I know I will qualify for a child tax credit for 2021, but I don’t want to receive advance payments. Is there a way of opting out?

Answer: Yes. People who want to opt out of the advance payments and instead take the full child credit on their 2021 return can do so through the IRS’s Child Tax Credit Update Portal. You will first have to verify your identity before using the tool. If you already have an existing username, you’re set to go. People without an existing account will have to verify their identity with a form of photo identification using ID.me, a trusted third party for the IRS.

There are other reasons people may decide to opt out of the advance payments besides wanting to take the fully refundable child credit in one lump sum on their 2021 tax returns. For example, opting out is recommended for families who claimed the child credit on their 2020 return, but know they will not be able to do so for 2021 because their modified AGI will be too high. A divorced parent who claimed a child as a dependent in 2020, and whose ex-spouse is eligible to claim the child in 2021, should also look into opting out of advance child credit payments.

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Can My Advance Payments Be Reduced If I Owe Child Support Payments Back Taxes Federal Or State Debt Or Money To Creditors Or Debt Collectors

No. The IRS will not reduce or offset your advance payments to pay past-due child support, back taxes, and federal or state debts. However, they are not protected from garnishment by creditors and debt collectors.

When you file your tax return and receive the rest of your CTC as part of your tax refund, it can be reduced to pay past-due child support payments, back taxes, Federal or state debts, and garnishment by creditors and debt collectors.

What Is The Child Tax Credit Update Portal Used For

The IRS Child Tax Credit Update Portal allows you to opt out of advance CTC payments. You may want to do this if you arent eligible for the advance payments or if you prefer to receive the full refund when you file your 2021 tax return . See Question 17 to understand more about opting out of payments. You can also add or change bank account information to get direct deposit, change the address where your payments are mailed, and update your income.

Later in the year, the CTC portal may allow you to make other updates, including updating the number of dependents you have, your income, or your marital status. For example, if you have or will have a new baby this year, you will be able to update your number of qualifying children on the CTC portal. Life changes can affect the amount of CTC you are eligible for. Making updates will help make sure that the IRS is sending you the correct amount of your CTC.

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What Is The Child Tax Credit

The child tax credit is a popular credit for parents and caretakers.

For the 2020 tax year, the child tax credit gives up to $2,000 per qualifying child a dependent under 17 who lived with the taxpayer for more than six months of the year and has a Social Security number to a taxpayer. It’s refundable up to $1,400 per child.

You have to earn at least $2,500 to be eligible for the credit. The full credit is payable to married couples filing jointly with a modified adjusted gross income of up to $400,000 and all other tax filers up to $200,000.

A partial credit is allowed for earners above those limits: For each additional $1,000 of income, the credit is reduced by $50.

What Are The Income Limits On The Child Tax Credit

This round of direct payments is determined by adjustable gross income. The maximum AGI to qualify for the Child Tax Credit is:

• $75,000 or less for single filers
• $112,500 or less for heads of household
• $150,000 or less for married couples filing a joint return
• $150,000 for qualified widows and widowers

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How Do I Get The 2021 Child Tax Credit And Get Advance Payments

Advance payments have been sent monthly from July to December 2021. You should have gotten your advance payments if you fall into any of the below categories:

If you are required to file taxes:

• Filed a tax return for tax year 2019 or 2020. Your tax return is used to determine eligibility for advance payments even if you didnt claim the CTC on your tax return.

If you arent normally required to file taxes:

• Successfully submitted your information using the 2020 IRS Non-Filer portal .
• Successfully submitted your information using the 2021 IRS Child Tax Credit Non-Filer portal or GetCTC.

If you havent received your advance payments, you can get the full amount of your CTC by filing a 2021 tax return . .

If you are a first-time filer, you will need a Taxpayer Identification Number. This can be an SSN or ITIN.

Social Security Numbers For Children

Question: My child doesn’t have a social security number. Can I claim the child credit or get advance payments?

Answer: No. The American Rescue Plan didn’t eliminate the requirement that only children with Social Security numbers qualify for the child credit. You must put your child’s name, date of birth and Social Security number on your 2021 Form 1040.

Although children must have Social Security numbers, you can have either a Social Security number or an individual taxpayer identification number.

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Can You Decline The Advance Of The Child Tax Credit

To avoid owing taxes or if you like to get a big refund to help your budgeting, the IRS will provide an option to decline the advance payments. They will announce how to do this closer to when the payments start.

Another option is to adjust your income tax withholding at work or to recalculate your estimated tax payments.