How to Receive the Newly Expanded Child Tax Credit and/or Earned Income Tax Credit

As part of President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, many parents and guardians are eligible for the Child Tax Credit and many people are eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit. Everyone needs to file a tax return to get their full Child Tax Credit and/or Earned Income Tax Credit. Go to ChildTaxCredit.Gov for information on how to get free assistance filing your taxes.

Things to Know About the Child Tax Credit:

• 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.

Things to Known About the Earned Income Tax Credit:

• Filing taxes will mean many families who are eligible for the Child Tax Credit will also get thousands of dollars in additional tax relief through the Earned Income Tax Credit.
• The EITC for workers without dependent children is now $1,500.
• Previously excluded young and older workers are eligible: The American Rescue Plan made young workers who aren’t half-time students eligible for the EITC for the first time and extended the credit to workers 65 and older.
• Income eligibility: Among those without dependent children, single workers with incomes below $21,430 and married couples with up to $27,380 can claim the EITC.

Help spread the word by telling your friends, family, colleagues, and neighbors to visit ChildTaxCredit.gov to learn more on how to get the Child Tax Credit and/or Earned Income Tax Credit.