As part of the 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.
Key Facts 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.
Find out if you are eligible for the Child Tax Credit here.
Key Facts 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 Earned Income Tax Credit (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.
In order to get a full Child Tax Credit and/or Earned Income Tax Credit, people need to file their tax returns. To obtain more information on how to get free assistance filling up your taxes, visit ChildTaxCredit.Gov.
