Time is running out!
Thanks to the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act, the 2021 Advance Child Tax Credit (CTC) is available to help NYC families afford the everyday expenses of raising a child throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. If you have children 17 years of age or younger and have not received advance CTC payments this year, you may be able to claim half of your annual CTC—worth up to $3,600 per child—as advance monthly payments in 2021. Families whose first payment is in November will receive up to $900 per child in November and December. Families whose first (and only) payment is in December will be up to $1,800 per child.
If you have yet to receive payments this year and have not filed a 2020 tax return, we encourage you to sign up before November 15, 2021 in order to receive your advance CTC payment in 2021. Note that in order to receive the other half of your CTC, you will need to file a tax return in 2022. You can also get tax help in person by scheduling an appointment with an IRS-certified Volunteer Income Tax Assistance preparer through NYC Free Tax Prep.
Qualifying for the Child Tax Credit
You can claim the CTC even if you have no income or don’t normally file taxes. The CTC will not affect other benefits. Parents do not need a Social Security number, but children aged 17 or younger must have one to qualify.
Claiming Your Child Tax Credit
If you haven’t received CTC advance payments in 2021, you have two ways to claim your tax credit:
If you filed a 2019 or 2020 tax return or used the IRS Non-Filer Tool to sign up for stimulus payments, no further action is needed to receive your advance CTC payments. To check whether you’re enrolled for advance payments or to update your bank account and mailing address, visit the IRS Child Tax Credit Update Portal.
For more information about advance CTC payments, including frequently asked questions, visit the City’s official Child Tax Credit webpage, or call 311.
Remember: Families who have not received advance CTC deposits this year must claim their payments by November 15, 2021, so verify your status, and put some cash in your family’s pocket today!
*original post 10-16-2021
