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May 12, 2021
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Barragán Urges Families to File Taxes Before May 17 to Get Advance Child Tax Credit Payments as Soon as Possible

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                      

May 12, 2021

52,000 households in California’s 44th Congressional District could get up to $300 per child every month beginning this summer as part of the American Rescue Plan.

Families Should File Taxes before May 17th to get their payments as soon as possible .

SAN PEDRO, Calif. — Congresswoman Nanette Diaz Barragán is urging families in California’s 44th Congressional District to file their taxes before the May 17th deadline to ensure they receive the new advance monthly Child Tax Credit payments they are entitled to as quickly as possible.

As part of President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, which Congresswoman Barragán helped pass in the House, families could get monthly payments of up to $300 per child beginning as soon as July. Barragán says the best way to ensure eligible families receive their payments is to file a 2020 tax return – even if they don’t have earnings to report or don’t normally file – because the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) needs information from tax returns in order to calculate and issue advance monthly payments.

  • Families can get free help preparing and filing their taxes at several nearby locations found here.
  • 192,900 children in California’s 44th Congressional District could benefit from the advance monthly payments. That’s 94.3 percent of all children in California’s 44th Congressional District.
  • 52,000 households in California’s 44th Congressional District could get an average total benefit of $3,400.

“Advance monthly payments of the Child Tax Credit will help set America’s children up for success and put more money in the pockets of hardworking parents. This money can be used to pay for childcare or put gas in the car so parents can go to work or help meet other household needs and help fuel our economy,” said Congresswoman Barragán. “The best way to make sure you and your family get the correct amount as soon as possible is to file a 2020 tax return before May 17th – even if you don’t normally file.”

To claim the Child Tax Credit, the child must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national or U.S. resident alien, and must not be 17-years old by the end of the tax year. The child must have a Social Security Number, but the parents claiming the deduction may have either a Social Security Number or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).

How Much are the Child Tax Credit Advance Monthly Payments?

The American Rescue Plan expanded the Child Tax Credit to up to $3,600 per child for children ages 0 to 5 and $3,000 per child for children ages 6 to 17.

The American Rescue Plan also authorized advance monthly payments of the Child Tax Credit through December 2021. Beginning as soon as July and running through December, qualifying families can get up to:

  • $300 a month per child for children ages 0 to 5.
  • $250 a month per child for children ages 6 to 17.

Families will get their remaining expanded Child Tax Credit when they file their 2021 tax return.

Who Qualifies for the Child Tax Credit Advance Monthly Payments?

  • Families will qualify for a full credit if their income is below $75,000 for single filers, $112,000 for people filing as head of household, or $150,000 for people who are married and filing jointly.
  • To be eligible, children must:
    • Have a Social Security number,
    • Live with you for at least half of the year,
    • Be under age 18 as of December 31, 2021, and
    • Be claimed on your tax return.
  • Children are eligible if they are your children, adopted children, stepchildren, half-siblings, foster children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews, or certain other relatives. The adult filing taxes must have a Social Security Number or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.

How Can Families Get Help Preparing and Filing their Taxes for Free?

Free tax preparation services are generally available until the tax filing deadline. Families should file their taxes before the May 17th deadline even if they do not have earnings to report or do not normally file, because the IRS needs information from tax returns in order to calculate and issue advance monthly payments.

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Nanette Diaz Barragán is proud to represent California’s 44th Congressional District, which includes the communities of Carson, Compton, Florence-Firestone, Lynwood, North Long Beach, Rancho Dominguez, San Pedro, South Gate, Walnut Park, Watts, Willowbrook and Wilmington. She serves as chairwoman of the House Homeland Security Committee’s Subcommittee on Border Security.