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The U.S. Treasury will start sending payments for the expanded child tax credit July 15, and eligible taxpayers could receive as much as $300 a month per eligible child through December. The rest will come with your 2021 tax refund when you file in 2022. About 39 million households will be eligible for the payments.
What is the child tax credit?
Unlike a tax deduction, which reduces your taxable income, a tax credit reduces your tax payments dollar for dollar. The revamped child tax credit for 2021 is more generous than in previous years, expands eligibility and establishes partial distribution through advance payments starting July 15. The child tax credit is also fully refundable, which means taxpayers can receive the entire credit even if they don't have earned income or don't owe any income taxes. Previously, only $1,400 was refundable.
The overhaul also drops the requirement for earned income, making the credit a possibility for older adults with income solely from social security, pensions or IRAs who have a dependent child or grandchild age 17 or younger. Most eligible families will receive advance payments automatically, unless they opt out, but people who were not required to file a tax return will need to take action to receive the cash this year.
The revisions, made through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, are applicable only for tax year 2021.
The IRS began sending letters the week of June 7 to families eligible for the credit. A second letter will be sent at a later date specifying the amount of money, says IRS spokesman Eric Smith.
Who is eligible
The program has been expanded to cover 17-year-olds in 2021. Eligible families claiming the credit will receive $3,000 per qualifying child ages 6 through 17 and $3,600 per qualifying child under age 6. Previously, the amount of the credit was up to $2,000 per child age 16 and under. Age is determined as of Jan. 1, so children turning 18 on Jan. 2 or later are still eligible for the $3,000 credit, and children turning 6 on Jan. 2 or later qualify for the $3,600 credit.
The tax credit is reduced, or phased out, for people with modified adjusted gross incomes at or above $150,000 for married taxpayers filing a joint return and qualifying widows or widowers, $112,500 for heads of household and $75,000 for singles.
Another new feature is that advance payments, totaling up to 50 percent of the credit, will be made monthly from July through December to eligible taxpayers who have a main home in the U.S. for more than half the year. The payments will be made by direct deposit, paper check or debit card. If you received a tax refund — or stimulus payment — through direct deposit, it is very likely you would receive the child tax credit advance payments electronically, says Smith, noting that the IRS prefers to pay via direct deposit. Others would likely receive a check or debit card.
"The goal, in general terms, is to migrate as many people to electronic delivery of money, as much as possible,” Smith says.