Advocacy: The Child Tax Credit

By Haley Cush

On July 15, most working families in the United States will begin receiving monthly payments of the The Child Tax Credit. 

The Child Tax Credit is a powerful tool in the fight for economic equity and security in rural America, but in the past has excluded too many low-income and middle-class workers and families.

This tax credit helps make a significant step toward closing those economic gaps in persistent poverty counties in rural America. Now is the time to make these expansions permanent, to ensure that all low-income and middle class individuals and families have the security they need to achieve economic stability. 

Do you live in West Virginia and Arizona? Help tell your senators that these expansions should be permanent.

What is the Child Tax Credit?

The Child Tax Credit is a monthly payment for the remainder of 2021 of up to $3,000 per child from 6-17 and $3600 dollars for children under the age of 6. The credit is supposed to help working families with the cost of raising a child with little to no action required on the part of eligible families.

Beginning July 15th,  and on the 15th of every month for the remainder of 2021,  eligible families will receive a Child Tax Credit, paid directly to their bank account on file with the IRS or in the mail. 

39 million families are expected to receive credits under this program. To learn more about the Child Tax Credit and what it could mean for your family, visit the official White House site here.

Are you eligible for the Child Tax Credit?

You are entitled to receive a full tax credit if you make less than $150,000 in a joint household or less than $112,500 in a single-income household. If this applies to you and you filed for taxes in 2019 or 2020, you DO NOT need to do anything to receive payment. The IRS will send your first payment directly to your bank account on file.

Even if you make more than these amounts you may be eligible for a smaller credit. If you are unsure whether you are eligible, read more about the requirements here.

If you did not file for taxes in 2019 or 2020 because your income was less than the tax threshold, you are still eligible to receive the credit but will need to apply.

How to apply for the Child Tax Credit

If you filed tax returns in 2019 or in 2020, you will not need to apply for the Child Tax Credit and will automatically receive tax relief credit payments starting on July 15th. Additionally, families that signed up to receive stimulus checks from the IRS do not need to apply and will automatically receive the Child Tax Credit.

You may still be eligible to receive the Child Tax Credit of up to $3000 for children 6-17 years old and up to $3600 for children under 6 years old even if you are not automatically enrolled. If you did not file for tax returns in 2019 or 2020 and have not received stimulus payments, visit this site. The online tool also will give you the opportunity to apply for the Recovery Rebate Credit and for all other stimulus checks you may be eligible for.

You can apply for the Child Tax Credit even after the July 15th start date and still receive all benefits you are entitled to.