It is not too late to sign up for Child Tax Credit payments. Eligible parents will get $300 a month for each child under age 6 and $250 for each one ages 6 to 17. The payments, which will run through the end of the year, will provide families with half the enhanced credit. They can claim the other half on their 2021 tax returns next year.
Most families are already signed up! If families have filed tax returns for 2019 or 2020, or if they signed up with the Non-Filer tool last year to receive a stimulus check from the Internal Revenue Service, they will get the monthly Child Tax Credit automatically. They do not need to sign up or take any action.
If they aren’t already signed up, they can still sign up to get the Child Tax Credit. They won’t lose your benefits if you do. These payments do not count as income for any family. So, signing up won’t affect eligibility for other federal benefits like SNAP and WIC.
Families are also eligible to apply for the Recovery Rebate Credit, also known as stimulus payments, as part of this process.
If families have at least one qualifying child and earned less than $24,800 as a married couple, $18,650 as a Head of Household, or $12,400 as a single filer, they can use the IRS Non-filer Sign-up Tool to get the Child Tax Credit and receive missing stimulus payments.
Here’s a list of things families will need to complete the process.
- Social Security Social Security numbers for their children and Social Security Numbers (or ITIN) for parents
- A reliable mailing address
- E-mail address
- Their bank account information (if they want to receive your payment by direct deposit).
To sign up, go to the IRS Non-filer Sign-up Tool.
For more information, visit: www.whitehouse.gov/child-tax-credit