As part of President Biden’s 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.
Everyone needs to file a tax return to get their full Child Tax Credit and/or Earned Income Tax
Credit. Go to ChildTaxCredit.Gov for information on how to get free assistance filing your taxes.
Key Facts
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.
What’s New
The EITC for workers without dependent children is now $1,500
Previously excluded young and older workers are eligible: TheAmericanRescue 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.
Tool Kit
The Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit are large tax refund payments that people
can receive when they file a tax return. The 2021 American Rescue Plan expanded who can
receive these payments and increased the amount of money available to many families and
individuals.
Most people need to file a tax return before April 18, 2022 to receive their full payment this year.
ChildTaxCredit.gov has easy to share information about how families and individuals can get the
full payment they are owed this year.