The Child Tax Credit is a large tax refund payment that people can receive when they file a tax return. The 2021 American Rescue Plan expanded who can receive these payments and increased the amount of money available to many families.
• Parents can receive $3,000 or $3,600 per child ages 0-17 depending on the child’s age.
• Income eligibility: All eligible families can receive the full credit if they make less than
$150,000 for a married couple or $112,500 for a single parent in 2021.
• File your taxes to get your remaining credit or your full credit if you haven’t gotten
monthly payments: Families, including those who received part of their Child Tax Credit as
monthly payments last year, can get their remaining Child Tax Credit by filing a tax return this
year. If you did not receive monthly Child Tax Credit payments, you will receive the full credit
amount when you file your tax returns.
• Non-taxable: The Child Tax Credit, including the monthly payments received last year, is a tax
cut. It is not income that will be taxed.
• Does not affect other federal benefits: Receiving the Child Tax Credit will have no impact on
anyone’s eligibility for, or lower the amount of, other federal benefits.
• For parents and legal guardians: Anyone, including grandparents, who are legal guardians
may be eligible for the Child Tax Credit.
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) programs help workers with limited income keep more of their hard-earned money by providing free tax prep services. To find a VITA location near you, check out the IRS VITA Locator here.
To work with an online VITA program or do your taxes (for free!) online, go to GetYourRefund.org.
