Archived: November 16, 2021
GetCTC.org
You may be eligible for a cash benefit for your children. Sign up by November 15 to claim your Child Tax Credit.
The Child Tax Credit is worth $3,600 per child under age 6, and $3,000 per child age 6-17. You may be eligible for the Child Tax Credit if:
- Your child is under 18 years old and has a Social Security Number (SSN).
- Your child lives with you most of the time.
- You have an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) or SSN.
- You can qualify even if you earn little or no money.
This is available even if you don’t normally file taxes, and won’t affect other government benefits. You can use GetCTC.org, a simplified tax filing website.
GetCTC will close on November 15. File today to claim your advance Child Tax Credit and missed stimulus payments! If you miss this deadline, you will need to claim your full Child Tax Credit when you file taxes in early 2022.
GetCTC cerrará el 15 de noviembre. ¡Presente hoy para reclamar su Crédito Tributario por Hijos por adelantado y pagos de estímulo perdidos! Si no cumple con esta fecha límite, deberá reclamar su Crédito Tributario por Hijos completo cuando presente sus impuestos a principios de 2022.
Click here for a step-by-step guide to using GetCTC.org (PDF).
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Who can use GetCTC.org?
Child Tax Credit Navigator training
Training session on October 20, 2021 by Code for America.
Training slideshow: Download PDF or access on Google Slides
You can ask questions at live CTC Navigator Q&A sessions on October 29, 2021 and November 12, 2021 at 8 am HST. Click here to register.
Outreach resources
Download HCAN’s multilingual social media graphics and printable flyers
FAQs and myths about claiming the CTC and stimulus payments (PDF)
Key points
- If you have recently submitted information to the IRS (in a tax return or the non-filer portal), no action is needed. You can check the status and update some of your household information at the IRS Child Credit Update Portal.
- If you earned less than $12,400 (or less than $24,800 if you are married), you can use GetCTC, a simplified tax filing portal to get the Child Tax Credit, receive a missing stimulus payment, and get cash now.
- To get the Child Tax Credit you will need to provide the Social Security Numbers of your children, and you'll need a SSN or ITIN. You can claim the Child Tax Credit even if you have little to no income.
- Generally, the children in your family qualify for the Child Tax Credit if they are under 18 and live with you most of the time.
Information about ITINs
- The Facts About the Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) (The American Immigration Council)
-
Guidelines to Acquiring an ITIN
- Note: At the end of this guide, it gets into specifics about local (Hartford, CT) details that won't apply here, but generally, the information is helpful.
- List of current ITIN Acceptance Agents in Hawaiʻi
About the Child Tax Credit
Many families with children can receive a much higher child tax credit this year.
The child tax credit for 2021 is:
- $3,600 per child under age 6
-
$3,000 per child age 6-17
This amount will phase out for higher incomes (see below). Learn more at the federal government's new website about the child tax credit, childtaxcredit.gov.
How will families receive this?
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You can receive half of your total credit as monthly payments between July–December 2021.
- These advance monthly payments will be up to $300 per child under age 6, and $250 per child age 6-17.
- There will be six monthly payments total, which are scheduled to be deposited on the 15th of each month.
- You can claim the other half in your 2021 tax return (which you’ll file in 2022).
The IRS has launched its portal (click here) where you can:
- Check if you’re enrolled to receive advance payments
- Unenroll to stop getting advance payments
- Provide or update your bank account information for monthly payments starting with the August payment
- Make changes to your address
The IRS says that future updates to the portal will allow you to make changes to your dependents, marital status and income, and re-enroll if you previously unenrolled. Follow HCAN on social media, and sign up for our email newsletter below, for updates.
What could this look like?
- Imagine a family with three kids: a newborn, a 2-year-old, and a 7-year-old.
- Their total child tax credit could be $10,200 (if their income is under the limit).
- This family could receive $850/month between July–December 2021. (This adds up to half of the total credit, or $5,100.)
- The family could then claim the remaining half, $5,100, on their tax return filed in 2022.
The credit will begin to phase out for:
- $75,000 for single filers
- $112,500 for head-of-household returns
- $150,000 for joint returns
The IRS will look at your 2020 tax return, or if that’s not filed, then your 2019 tax return. If you didn't file taxes, click here to fill out the new IRS Non-Filer Sign-Up Tool.
What’s different this year? The American Rescue Plan changes major aspects of the child tax credit for 2021:
- The credit amount is higher (up from $2,000).
- 17-year-old children are included.
- The credit is fully “refundable,” ensuring that even the lowest income families can receive the full credit.
- Eligible families can receive half of the credit as advance payments, unless you opt out.
“These changes are estimated to help over 300,000 children in Hawai‘i who currently don’t qualify for the full tax credit,” according to Senator Brian Schatz.
Download and share these social media graphics. Tag us @HCAN_HI or “Hawaiʻi Children’s Action Network” on Facebook!
