Many Americans benefitted from the advanced child tax credit payments from the IRS last year. To get the rest, you must claim the credit on your taxes.
As tax season unfolds, millions of Americans have already started filing their tax returns and claiming the new or expanded credits available this year.
While there are various credits to claim, this can also be confusing for taxpayers to navigate.
Under the American Rescue Plan, people received advances on their child tax credit as well as stimulus payments that some may have missed out on.
This is going to create a more difficult tax year.
Fourth stimulus check: How to get $1,400
Child tax credits and your tax return with the IRS
In 2021 parents received checks every month from July through December.
This has never happened before, and the money was not free but an advance on what the IRS believed families would be getting when they filed their taxes in 2022.
Parents want to know now, if they got advanced payments do they still need to file their taxes?
IRS Child tax credit: When to pay it back
Claiming the child tax credit
The answer is yes, you likely have a remaining balance you’ll want to collect.
Normally the tax credit is worth $2,000 for children, but this year it’s different.
The credit is worth $3,600 for children under 6 and $3,000 for children ages 6 to 17.
The advance parents saw in 2021 was just the first half of these expanded amounts.
This means this year parents need to claim the credit in order to see another $1,800 for kids under 6 or $1,500 for kids ages 6-17.
Stimulus Check: Have a baby in 2021? Claim your stimulus payment
Amounts parents received were based on their 2019 or 2020 tax returns, so if there were any changes to your income or dependents you may be owed more or owe it back.
This will all be adjusted with your 2021 tax return.
If you’re not required to file taxes, you still need to to see the other half of that amount.
If you do not, the IRS will not automatically send you the payment you’re owed.
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