What's Expanded Child Tax Credit?
Child Tax Credit will help many families receive advance payments starting on July 15, 2021. The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 expands the Child Tax Credit (CTC) for the tax year 2021 only.
The expanded credit means:
-
The credit amounts will increase for many taxpayers.
-
The credit for qualifying children is fully refundable, which means that taxpayers can benefit from the credit even if they don’t have earned income or don’t owe any income taxes.
-
The credit will include children who turn age 17 in 2021.
-
Taxpayers may receive part of their credit in 2021 before filing their 2021 tax returns.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE CHILD TAX CREDIT?
To be eligible for the CTC refund, a single or married worker must:
-
Be able to claim an exemption for one or more dependent children under age 17 on his or her tax return.
-
Have either a Social Security Number (SSN) or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).
-
ITINs are issued by the IRS (https://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Individual-Taxpayer-Identification-Number-ITIN) to individuals who are unable to obtain a SSN. Immigrant workers with either type of number may be eligible for the CTC.
For more details, visit the IRS webpage: https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/advance-child-tax-credit-payments-in-2021
or
visit the White House website topic:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/child-tax-credit/
NOTE: The Child Tax Credit or other tax credits that individuals are eligible for, will not affect immigration status, and ability to get a green card or an individual's future immigration plans. Use of tax credits is not considered in a “public charge” determination by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
The following is summarized from Publication 972: Child Tax Credit (https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-972) posted on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website.
See United Way Child Tax Credit Flyer
