The latest tools from the IRS will help families find out if they’re eligible for the child tax credit payments and opt out if they’d like. We’ll tell you how to use them.
Both IRS child tax credit portals are officially available for use, the agency said Tuesday, as well as a new eligibility tool. One portal — called the Child Tax Credit Update Portal — will let you verify if your family qualifies for the tax credit and unenroll from getting monthly payments this year. A Spanish version will be available soon, the agency said. The new eligibility tool — named the Child Tax Credit Eligibility Assistant — will quickly show you whether you qualify for the payments. These tools join a non-tax-filers portal that helps people who aren’t required to file tax returns sign up for the monthly payments.
In just a few weeks, the first child tax credit payment is scheduled to arrive on July 15. So to help families get ready for the payments, the IRS sent a letter this month to 36 million households, notifying them they may qualify for a payment. The letter is part of outreach from the IRS and White House that includes the childtaxcredit.gov website with more information on the money.
You can get prepared using our child tax credit calculator to see how much money your household may be eligible for. We can also suggest some ways to use your child tax credit checks, give you details on how you might receive your payment and tell you how to claim thousands of dollars back for child care expenses. We will update this story with new information.
IRS portals are your key to signing up for and managing the child tax credit payments in 2021 and 2022
Here’s how the online tools will help parents with eligible dependents, according to the IRS:
- The Child Tax Credit Update Portal lets you verify that your family qualifies for the credit and opt out of receiving any payments this year.
- A nonfilers portal lets you provide the IRS with basic information about yourself and your dependents if you normally aren’t required to file a tax return.
- The Child Tax Credit Eligibility Assistant, also now open, can help you determine whether you qualify for the advance child tax credit payments.
Later this year, the IRS said, you’ll be able to view your payment history and add your bank account information or mailing addresses using the Child Tax Credit Update Portal.
In addition to the Child Tax Credit Awareness Day, which was Monday, the White House has launched a new website for the child tax credit. The website provides an FAQ for families, details about eligibility and more downloadable information.
The IRS has also provided a list of free tax days in 12 select cities (PDF), including Los Angeles and New York. In the coming weeks, the tax days will provide eligible families with help to prepare and file their 2020 tax returns so that they can receive the advance child tax credit payments.
