The Child Tax Credit in the American Rescue Plan provides the largest Child Tax Credit ever and historic relief to the most working families ever – and as of July 15th, most families are automatically receiving monthly payments of $250 or $300 per child without having to take any action. The Child Tax Credit will help all families succeed.

The American Rescue Plan increased the Child Tax Credit from $2,000 per child to $3,000 per child for children over the age of six and from $2,000 to $3,600 for children under the age of six, and raised the age limit from 16 to 17. All working families will get the full credit if they make up to $150,000 for a couple or $112,500 for a family with a single parent (also called Head of Household).


Major tax relief for nearly
all working families:

$3,000 to $3,600 per child for nearly all working families

The Child Tax Credit in the American Rescue Plan provides the largest child tax credit ever and historic relief to the most working families ever.

  • $3,000 per child 6-17 years old
  • $3,600 per child under 6 years old
  • All working families will get the full credit if they make up to $150,000 for a couple or $112,500 for a family with a single parent (also called Head of Household)

Automatic monthly payments for nearly all working families

If you’ve filed tax returns for 2019 or 2020, or if you signed up to receive a stimulus check from the Internal Revenue Service, you will get this tax relief automatically. You do not need to sign up or take any action.

  • Advancing your tax relief: Normally, tax relief for the year only comes the following year when you file your taxes, no matter how much you need it now. This year, most families started getting the money in July.
  • Monthly payments starting in July: For the first time, people will received the Child Tax Credit in monthly payments. For every child 6-17 years old, families got $250 each month, and for every child under 6 years old, families will get $300 each month.
    • The 80% who get their refunds from the IRS through direct deposit will continue to get these payments in their bank account on the 15th of every month until the end of 2021.
    • People who don’t use direct deposit will receive their payment by mail around the same time.

President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda calls for extending this tax relief for years and years

The new Child Tax Credit enacted in the American Rescue Plan is only for 2021. That is why President Biden strongly believes that we should extend the new Child Tax Credit for years and years to come. That’s what he proposes in his Build Back Better Agenda.

Easy sign up for low-income families to reduce child poverty

If you don’t make enough to be required to file taxes, you can still get benefits.

The Administration collaborated with a non-profit, Code for America, who created a non-filer sign-up tool  that is easy to use on a mobile phone and also available in Spanish. The deadline to sign up for monthly Child Tax Credit payments this year was November 15. If you are eligible for the Child Tax Credit but did not sign up for monthly payments by the November 15 deadline, you can still claim the full credit of up to $3,600 per child by filing your taxes next year.


See how the Child Tax Credit works for families like yours:

  • Jamie

    • Occupation: Teacher
    • Income: $55,000
    • Filing Status: Head of Household (Single Parent)
    • Dependents: 3 children over age 6

    Jamie

    Jamie filed a tax return this year claiming 3 children and will receive part of her payment now to help her pay for the expenses of raising her kids. She’ll receive the rest next spring.

    • Total Child Tax Credit: increased to $9,000 from $6,000 thanks to the American Rescue Plan ($3,000 for each child over age 6).
    • Receives $4,500 in 6 monthly installments of $750 between July and December.
    • Receives $4,500 after filing tax return next year.
  • Sam & Lee

    • Occupation: Bus Driver and Electrician
    • Income: $100,000
    • Filing Status: Married
    • Dependents: 2 children under age 6

    Sam & Lee

    Sam & Lee filed a tax return this year claiming 2 children and will receive part of their payment now to help her pay for the expenses of raising their kids. They’ll receive the rest next spring.

    • Total Child Tax Credit: increased to $7,200 from $4,000 thanks to the American Rescue Plan ($3,600 for each child under age 6). 
    • Receives $3,600 in 6 monthly installments of $600 between July and December.
    • Receives $3,600 after filing tax return next year.
  • Alex & Casey

    • Occupation: Lawyer and Hospital Administrator
    • Income: $350,000
    • Filing Status: Married
    • Dependents: 2 children over age 6

    Alex & Casey

    Alex & Casey filed a tax return this year claiming 2 children and will receive part of their payment now to help them pay for the expenses of raising their kids. They’ll receive the rest next spring.

    • Total Child Tax Credit: $4,000. Their credit did not increase because their income is too high ($2,000 for each child over age 6). 
    • Receives $2,000 in 6 monthly installments of $333 between July and December.
    • Receives $2,000 after filing tax return next year.
  • Tim & Theresa

    • Occupation: Home Health Aide and part-time Grocery Clerk
    • Income: $24,000
    • Filing Status: Do not file taxes; their income means they are not required to file
    • Dependents: 1 child under age 6

    Tim & Theresa

    Tim and Theresa chose not to file a tax return as their income did not require them to do so. As a result, they did not receive payments automatically, but if they signed up by the November 15 deadline, they will receive part of their payment this year to help them pay for the expenses of raising their child. They’ll receive the rest next spring when they file taxes. If Tim and Theresa did not sign up by the November 15 deadline, they can still claim the full Child Tax Credit by filing their taxes next year.

    • Total Child Tax Credit: increased to $3,600 from $1,400 thanks to the American Rescue Plan ($3,600 for their child under age 6). If they signed up by July:
    • Received $1,800 in 6 monthly installments of $300 between July and December.
    • Receives $1,800 next spring when they file taxes. 
    • Automatically enrolled for a third-round stimulus check of $4,200, and up to $4,700 by claiming the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit.

    Frequently Asked Questions about the Child Tax Credit:

    Overview

    The Child Tax Credit is a tax benefit to help families who are raising children.

    The American Rescue Plan, signed into law on March 11, 2021, expanded the Child Tax Credit for 2021 to get more help to more families.

    • It has gone from $2,000 per child in 2020 to $3,600 for each child under age 6.
    • For each child ages 6 to 16, it’s increased from $2,000 to $3,000.
    • It also now makes 17-year-olds eligible for the $3,000 credit.
    • Previously, low-income families did not get the same amount or any of the Child Tax Credit. Under the American Rescue Plan, all families in need will get the full amount.
    • To get money to families sooner, the IRS began sending monthly payments (up to half of your total amount) this year, starting in July.
    • It is broken up into monthly payments, which means payments of up to $300 per child under age 6 and $250 per child ages 6 to 17.
    • You’ll get the remainder of the credit when you file your taxes next year.

    The American Rescue Plan enacted these historic changes to the Child Tax Credit for 2021 only. That is why President Biden and many others strongly believe that we should extend the increased Child Tax Credit for years and years to come. President Biden proposes that in his Build Back Better agenda.

    The deadline to sign up for monthly Child Tax Credit payments this year was November 15. If you are eligible for the Child Tax Credit but did not sign up for monthly payments by the November 15 deadline, you can still claim the full credit of up to $3,600 per child by filing your taxes next year.

    Who is eligible for the Child Tax Credit?

    Nearly all families with kids qualify. Some income limitations apply. For example, only couples making less than $150,000 and single parents (also called Head of Household) making less than $112,500 will qualify for the additional 2021 Child Tax Credit amounts. Families with high incomes may receive a smaller credit or may not qualify for any credit at all. For more detail on the phase-outs for higher income families, see “How much will I receive in Child Tax Credit payments?”

    If you have any questions about your unique circumstances, visit irs.gov/childtaxcredit2021.

    If you will not be eligible to claim the Child Tax Credit on your 2021 return (the one due in April of 2022), then you should go to the IRS website to opt out of receiving monthly payments using the Child Tax Credit Update Portal. Receiving monthly payments now could mean that you have to return those payments when you file your tax return next year. If things change again and you are entitled to the Child Tax Credit for 2021, you can claim the full amount on your tax return when you file next year.

    If you have any questions about your unique circumstances, you should visit irs.gov/childtaxcredit2021.

    Getting your payments

    Deposits for the Child Tax Credit are labeled as CHILDCTC in your bank account. Read more about CHILDCTC.

    People who receive payments by direct deposit got their first payment on July 15, 2021. After that, payments continue to go out on the 15th of every month. (In August the payment went out on August 13th since the 15th falls on a weekend.) If you haven’t provided the IRS with your bank account information on a recent tax return, a check will be sent out to you around the same time to the address the IRS has for you.

    Most families will receive the full amount: $3,600 for each child under age 6 and $3,000 for each child ages 6 to 17. To get money to families sooner, the IRS is sending families half of their 2021 Child Tax Credit as monthly payments of $300 per child under age 6 and $250 per child between the ages of 6 and 17.

    This amount may vary by income. These people qualify for the full Child Tax Credit:

    • Married couples with income under $150,000
    • Families with a single parent (also called Head of Household) with income under $112,500
    • Everyone else with income under $75,000

    These people qualify for at least $2,000 of Child Tax Credit, which comes out to $166 per child each month:

    • Married couples with income under $400,000
    • Families with a single parent (also called Head of Household) with income under $200,000
    • Everyone else with income under $200,000

    Families with even higher incomes may receive smaller amounts or no credit at all.

    The IRS sends your payments by direct deposit to the bank account they have on file. If they don’t have bank account information for you, a check will be mailed to you. If you receive your payment electronically, it will show up in your bank account labeled CHILDCTC.

    You can add or change your bank account information through the IRS’s Child Tax Credit Update Portal. Due to processing times, changes might not be reflected immediately on your next payment.

    Yes, you can opt out of monthly payments for any reason. To opt-out of the monthly payments, or unenroll, you can go to the IRS Child Tax Credit Update Portal. If you do choose not to receive any more monthly payments, you’ll get any remaining Child Tax Credit as a lump sum next year when you file your tax return.

    What if I didn’t file taxes last year or the year before?

    You may be eligible for Child Tax Credit payments even if you have not filed taxes recently. Not everyone is required to file taxes. While the deadline to sign up for monthly Child Tax Credit payments this year was November 15, you can still claim the full credit of up to $3,600 per child by filing a tax return next year.

    No. Everyone can receive the full Child Tax Credit benefits they are owed. If you signed up for monthly payments later in the year, your remaining monthly payments will be larger to reflect the payments you missed. If you do not sign-up in time for monthly payments in 2021, you will receive the full benefit when you file your tax return in 2022.

    Will this affect other benefits I receive?

    No. Receiving Child Tax Credit payments is not considered income for any family. Therefore, it will not change the amount you receive in other Federal benefits. These Federal benefits include unemployment insurance, Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, SSDI, TANF, WIC, Section 8, or Public Housing.

    Spread the word about these important benefits:

    For more information, visit the IRS page on Child Tax Credit.

    Download the Child Tax Credit explainer (PDF).

    ZIP Code-level data on eligible non-filers is available from the Department of Treasury: PDF | XLSX

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