What You Need to Know About the Expanded Child Tax Credit
The “Expanded Child Tax Credit” hit many bank accounts as of this morning. As a part of the stimulus package signed earlier in 2021, a family with a child under the age of 18 are eligible for this increased tax credit. The amount varies depending on income and number of eligible children, but the White House says $15 billion in payments have been sent out to the families of nearly 60 million children.
Some parents in the Chicagoland Lutheran Educational Foundation (CLEF) network are using this monthly tax credit to finance their child’s monthly tuition. Find a CLEF school in a neighborhood near you today!
Here are some key facts about how it works.
How much will my family get?
For every child under the age of 6, families will get up to $3,600 under the expansion, or $300 per month. For every child ages 6-17, the amount is $3,000, or $250 per month. This is a significant increase from past years when the credit was $2,000 per child, ages 0-16.
The amount starts phasing out for families with higher incomes, above $150,000 for married couples filing jointly, or $112,500 for single parents who file as head of household. There are a number of online calculators you can use to see how much you can expect to get.
Why is this money going out now?
What’s being sent out this week is known as an advance child tax credit payment. In the past, families eligible for the child tax credit would have gotten it as a one-time lump sum when they filed their taxes. Now, half of the credit will be disbursed over six months, with a payment made on or around the 15th of every month from now until December. You get the second half of the credit when you file your taxes.
Do I need to sign up to get the money?
If you file federal taxes, you should automatically get the monthly payments. If you don’t file taxes, you need to register on a website set up by the IRS. People who don’t file taxes but received stimulus checks in the pandemic should automatically receive the payments.
“Families would be smart to confirm the account that the IRS has on file for them, and any other particulars that would be necessary to receive the credit,” says Tim Flacke, executive director of Commonwealth, a social impact nonprofit. Those particulars include your most up-to-date bank account information and mailing address.
Can I opt out of the advance payments and just get the whole credit next spring when I file my taxes?
Yes. The IRS has created a website where you can manage your payments. You need to set up an account and verify your identity before you can stop the monthly payments.
By opting out, you are not turning down the credit. You are just delaying when you get it. This may be a good option for people who are accustomed to getting a sizable credit on their tax bill in the spring and count on that to offset taxes due or to make a big purchase.
What if my child turns 18 in 2021? What if I have a new baby this fall?
The expanded child tax credit covers children from birth to 17. If your child turns 18 in 2021, he or she will no longer be eligible. However, because the advance payments are based on earlier tax filings, you may still receive money for a child who is ineligible. Most people will have to pay that money back. The IRS does have a repayment protection program for lower-income earners.
If you have a baby anytime in 2021, that baby is eligible for the credit. The IRS says you will be able to make changes to your dependents, marital status and income on its website by late summer.
What happens after this year?
The expanded child tax credit is only for 2021. A budget deal announced by the Senate Budget Committee could extend it. President Biden has also proposed an extension under his American Families Plan but faces opposition in Congress.