The Child Tax Credit is a refundable tax credit for families with qualifying children or dependents. It may be able to help your family maximize your refund and keep more of your hard-earned money.
How much could I receive through the Child Tax Credit?
Families will receive $3,000 per child for children over the age of 6 and $3,600 per child for children under the age of 6.
Who is eligible for the Child Tax Credit?
Your family is eligible for the credit if the child:
- Is your son, daughter, grandchild, stepchild or adopted child; younger sibling, step-sibling, half-sibling, or their descendent; or a foster child placed with you by a government agency.
- Is under 18 at the end of the tax year.
- Is properly claimed as your dependent on your tax return.
- Is a U.S. citizen, U.S. national or U.S. resident alien.
- Lives with you for more than half of the year.
- Does not provide over half of their own support during the year.
All eligible families will receive the full credit if they make up to $150,000 for a couple or $112,500 for a single parent. Families with higher incomes may receive a smaller credit, or no credit at all, depending on their income.
To find out if you are eligible, use the IRS Eligibility Assistant.
How will I receive the credit?
Under the 2021 American Rescue Plan, most families automatically received half of the credit amount through monthly payments. The other half should be claimed when filing your 2021 income tax return. If you received advance monthly Child Tax Credit payments in 2021, find out how to compare (reconcile) your payments to claim the rest of the Child Tax Credit on your 2021 tax return.
If you did NOT receive advance Child Tax Credit payments, you can claim the credit by entering your children and other dependents on Form 1040 and attaching a completed Schedule 8812. CLICK HERE to learn more.
I don’t normally file a federal tax return, but I am eligible for the Child Tax Credit. How can I receive payment?
If you’re eligible but did not receive any monthly advance Child Tax Credit payments in 2021, you can still get a lump-sum payment by filing a 2021 tax return or completing a “simplified” tax return. You can file a simplified tax return through GetCTC (English | Spanish). You must complete this form by November 15 to receive the credit in 2022.
Will signing up for the Child Tax Credit have any effect on my immigration application?
No. You can apply for and receive the tax credit with NO negative effect on any immigration application you might file. Immigration does NOT ask about tax credits or consider them negatively in your application process.
Need more information?
Call 2-1-1 or 1-888-892-1162 to speak with an NC 211 call specialist.
Last updated 12/2/2022
