Child Tax Credit: who can receive up to $3,600 and how to claim

Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, the amount of the Child Tax Credit increased for tax year 2021. For those who have yet to claim the benefit on their taxes, you may be eligible to receive $3,600 for each dependent under six and $3,000 for each child ages six to seventeen, $3,000.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) distributed half of the credit in monthly checks from July to December 2021: $300 for families with children under 6 years old and $250 for families with children from 6 to 17 years. However, if you did not receive these monthly payments and have not filed your taxes, you must do so to receive the total value per child.

Child Tax Credit: who can receive up to $3,600 and how to claim

Taxpayers could claim the payment by filing their 2021 tax return. However, this year's tax season ended on April 18 and the extension expired on October 17.

You may still be able to get the money if you claim the credit by filing your return after those dates; however, since both deadlines have passed, the amount you are eligible for would be reduced by penalties and your refunds would be less than expected.

On the other hand, people who are generally not required to file their taxes because of their income still have until November 15 of this year to apply for the credit, as well as the third stimulus check, through the GetCTC.org tool.

Who can receive it?

According to the IRS, the maximum amount of the credit can be claimed for each qualifying child who has a valid Social Security number to work in the US. To qualify, the dependent must:

To qualify, the taxpayer must meet the income requirements no greater than: