Rep. Eshoo Urges Families to File Taxes Before May 17 to Get Monthly Child Tax Credit Payment
Press Release
U.S. Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (CA-18) is urging families in California's 18th Congressional District to file their 2020 federal tax returns before the upcoming May 17th deadline to ensure they receive the accurate amount in new monthly Child Tax Credit payments as soon as possible.
"The monthly payments for the Child Tax Credit will be a lifeline for many families in our communities, allowing parents to afford childcare and other essential costs to care for their children," said Rep. Eshoo. "Families should file their tax return before May 17th to ensure they receive the correct amount as soon as possible."
As part of the American Rescue Plan that Rep. Eshoo helped pass, many families are eligible for monthly payments of up to $300 per child beginning as soon as July. Rep. Eshoo says the best way to ensure eligible families receive their payments is to file a 2020 tax return -- even if they don't have earnings to report or don't normally file -- because the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) needs information from tax returns in order to calculate and issue the monthly payments.
86,500 children in CA-18 could benefit from the monthly payments. That's 48.3% of all children in the District.
27,800 households in CA-18 could receive an average total benefit of $2,400.
How Much are the Child Tax Credit Advance Monthly Payments?
The American Rescue Plan expanded the Child Tax Credit to a maximum of $3,600 per child under 5 years old and $3,000 per child between 6 and 17 years old.
The new law also authorized advance monthly payments of the Child Tax Credit through December 2021. Beginning in July and running through December, 2021, qualifying families can receive:
Up to $300 a month per child for children ages 0 to 5.
Up to $250 a month per child for children ages 6 to 17.
Families will receive their remaining expanded Child Tax Credit when they file their 2021 tax return.
Who Qualifies for the Child Tax Credit Advance Monthly Payments?
Families will qualify for a full credit if their income is below $75,000 for single filers, $112,000 for people filing as head of household, or $150,000 for people who are married and filing jointly.
To be eligible, children must:
Have a Social Security number,
Live with the tax filer for at least half the year,
Be under age 18 as of December 31, 2021, and
Be claimed as a dependent on the filer's tax return.
Children are eligible if they are your children, including adopted children, stepchildren, half-siblings, foster children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews, or certain other relatives. The adult filing taxes must have a Social Security Number or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.
How Can Families Get Help Preparing and Filing their Taxes for Free?
Free tax preparation services are generally available until the tax filing deadline.
Qualified families can file taxes for free online through the IRS Free File program at https://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile/.
Families where the parent or caregiver is aged 50 or older can use this AARP tool to find free tax help near them at https://secure.aarp.org/applications/VMISLocator/searchTaxAideLocations.action.
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