Simplified Tax Filing to Claim Your Child Tax Credit

Claim your Child Tax Credit and missing stimulus payments, even if you don’t have your tax documents.

Child Tax Credit

Putting cash in your family’s pocket every month for the things you need, even if you make little or no money.

The American Rescue Plan, signed into law by President Biden on March 11, 2021, increases the Child Tax Credit (CTC) to provide up to $300 per month per child under age 6, and up to $250 per month per child ages 6 to 17.

You can receive payments of up to $300 per child every month starting in July 2021 through December 2021. You will need to file a tax return in 2022 to receive the rest of the payment.

GetCTC is a Code for America product. Why do we do this work?
Made in collaboration with the White House and U.S. Department of Treasury.
IRS-approved official E-file provider.
Are you a community partner helping someone else access the CTC?
See our resource page for navigators here.

Do I qualify for the Child Tax Credit?

You can receive the Child Tax Credit if you have children, even if you make little or no money.

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.

Who is eligible to claim the Child Tax Credit?

Joint filers making up to $150,000, single head of households making up to $112,500, and other single filers making up to $75,000 qualify for the full advanced monthly payment of the Child Tax Credit.

Does my child or dependent qualify for the Child Tax Credit?
Your child qualifies your family for the Child Tax Credit if:
  • The child is your son, daughter, grandchild, stepchild or adopted child; younger sibling, step-sibling, half-sibling, or their descendent; or a foster child placed with you by a government agency.
  • The child was under 17 at the end of 2020.
  • The child has a valid Social Security Number.
  • The child lived with you for more than half of 2021.
  • The child did not provide over half of their own support for 2021.

How do I get the Child Tax Credit?

To provide the Advance Child Tax Credit payments, the IRS needs to know current information about you and your children. If you have submitted a 2019 or a 2020 tax return, or if you used the IRS Non-filer Portal in 2020 to claim your stimulus payments, then the IRS has enough information to send your family your Advance Child Tax Credit payments automatically.

If you have not submitted any information to the IRS in the last year, you can submit your information through GetCTC, a simplified tax filing portal, and get your payments.

If you already filed a 2019, or a 2020 tax return, you don’t have to do anything.

If you have already filed a 2019 or 2020 tax return and you have not had major changes to your household, no additional action is needed. We do know that family situations can change quickly. To receive the correct amount of money from the Child Tax Credit, you can make sure that the IRS has the correct information on your current household.

If your family situation has changed you will soon be able to use the IRS CTC Update Portal to:

  • Update the number of eligible dependents in your household (for example if a child has moved out, or a new baby was born)
  • Report significant changes in household income

You can currently use the Update Portal to:

  • Check to see if you're enrolled to receive advance payments
  • Opt out of receiving monthly payments, and choose to receive the payment next year when you submit your 2021 tax return
  • Provide or update your bank account information for monthly payments, or update information submitted previously.

You might choose to opt out of receiving monthly Child Tax Credit payments if:

  • You would prefer to receive your credit in one payment in 2022
  • Your bank information or address has changed in the last year
  • You do not plan on claiming dependents on your 2021 tax return (2022 tax season), for example if you share share custody with someone else and alternate who claims the child as a dependent

Check Enrollment, Update Your Information, or Opt Out in the IRS Child Credit Update Portal!

If you have not filed a tax return, you can sign up to get the Child Tax Credit.

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. You can sign up for the Child Tax Credit even if you have little to no income or receive other federal benefits like SSI or SSDI.

if you need help.

If you haven’t already submitted information to the IRS (in a tax return or a non-filer portal), you can file a full return instead to get even more credits you are owed.

If you have at least one qualifying child and have any earned income, but haven’t filed a tax return, we recommend that you file a 2020 tax return.

Filing a full 2020 tax return will allow your family to claim the Child Tax Credit, receive all three stimulus payments, and the Earned Income Credit to get even more cash now.

File your 2020 taxes for free using GetYourRefund’s DIY service. We provide free access to tax prep software, and have certified tax experts ready to provide chat support if you need help.

Common Questions