Stimulus Update: How to Sign Up for the Last Child Tax Credit Check
Time is running out to sign up online to get your advance Child Tax Credit payment for December. On Nov. 12, the IRS announced that millions of families will be receiving their CTC payments for November. Families who are not getting payments and have not filed a tax return can still sign up on IRS.gov; however, this must be done by 11:59 pm ET on Monday, Nov. 15.
See: IRS Updates 2021 Child Tax Credit Frequently Asked Questions
Find: 91% of Low-Income Families Are Using the Child Tax Credit for Basic Necessities
The November payments have gone out to 36 million families, totaling about $15 billion. Most payments are being made by direct deposit. Previous payments were received July 15, Aug. 13, Sept. 15 and Oct. 15. The last payment is scheduled to go out on Dec. 15. Families with children under the age of six receive $300 per month for each child and up to $250 per month for each child between the ages of 6 and 17.
Check if you’re eligible for CTC payments by using the IRS’s Advance Child Tax Credit Eligibility Assistant. To qualify for advance CTC payments, you (and your spouse, if you filed a joint return) must have:
- Filed a 2019 or 2020 tax return and claimed the Child Tax Credit
- Gave the IRS your information in 2020 to receive the Economic Impact Payment with the Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here tool
- Gave the IRS your information using the Non-Filer: Submit Your Information tool
- Lived in a primary residence in the U.S. for more than half the year or filed a joint return with a spouse who lived in a primary residence in the U.S. for more than half the year
- A qualifying child who is under the age of 18 at the end of 2021 with a valid Social Security number
- Made less than certain income limits
If you’re eligible for the advance Child Tax Credit, you can only sign up online by visiting IRS.gov/childtaxcredit2021 (available in English and Spanish).
See: Haven’t Received a Child Tax Credit Payment? Check if You’re Eligible
Find: How To Prepare Your Taxes for 2022 According to IRS Guidelines
To complete this process, you’ll need:
- Social Security numbers for your children and Social Security numbers for you and your spouse
- A current mailing address
- E-mail address or phone number
- Bank account information if you wish to receive payments by direct deposit
Half of the total credit amount is being paid in six advance monthly payments. The other half can be claimed when you filed your 2021 tax return. If you don’t sign up in time, you can still claim the full credit on your 2021 tax return.
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