Under the American Rescue Plan of 2021, advance payments of up to half the 2021 Child Tax Credit were sent to eligible taxpayers last year. If you received advance payments, you can claim the rest of the Child Tax Credit, if eligible, when you file your 2021 tax return. Here are three steps to getting the rest of your credit:
Review Letter 6419: If you received advance Child Tax Credit payments in 2021, you should have received this letter in January 2022. It shows the amount of advance payments you received in 2021 and the number of qualifying children the payments were based on. You or your tax preparer will use this information to figure your remaining credit accurately. If you misplaced your letter, you can look up your information using the IRS’ CTC Update Portal or Online Account.
Claim the Rest of Your 2021 Child Tax Credit: Filing a tax return is the only way to get the remainder of your 2021 Child Tax Credit if you are eligible. Electronic filing with direct deposit is the safest and fastest way to get a tax refund. Before filing, make sure your bank account information is correct. Many people qualify for free e-filing through IRS Free File or at a volunteer tax preparation site.
Get Paid! After you file your return, you can check on the status of your refund using the Where’s My Refund? tool on IRS.gov or the mobile app IRS2Go. You can check your status within these tools within 24 hours of e-filing or within four weeks of mailing a return. Updates to the online tool are made daily, usually overnight. To use this tool, you will need your Social Security number, filing status, and the exact whole dollar amount of your refund.
If you didn’t receive advance payments, you can claim the full amount of the 2021 Child Tax Credit if you’re eligible, even if you don’t normally file a tax return. To claim the full Child Tax Credit, file a 2021 tax return. Learn more about who is eligible for the Child Tax Credit online.
Learn more about the 2021 Child Tax Credit with these frequently asked questions.