The Internal Revenue Service and partner groups are hosting Advance Child Tax Credit Free Tax Prep Days events in several cities this weekend, July 23-24, 2021, as part of a wider effort to raise awareness of the Advance Child Tax Credit. Volunteers and IRS employees will help families file tax returns and register for the Advance Child Tax Credit using the Child Tax Credit Non-filer Sign-up Tool.
This weekend's events will be held in these cities:
Birmingham, Alabama
Bronx, New York
Charlotte, North Carolina
Chicago, Illinois
Cleveland, Ohio
Dallas, Texas
Indianapolis, Indiana
Memphis, Tennessee
Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota
Newark, New Jersey
New Haven, Connecticut
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Paterson, New Jersey
Riverside, California
Seattle, Washington
Tampa, Florida
The addresses of the events are listed on the Advance Child Tax Credit Free Tax Prep Days page. People coming should have the following information: Social Security numbers for their children, themselves and their spouse; a reliable mailing address; an e-mail address; and their bank account information if they want to receive payments by direct deposit.
Some people who haven’t filed a 2020 tax return yet are also eligible for the $1,400 per person Economic Impact Payments and the Recovery Rebate Credit. The Child Tax Credit Non-filer Sign-up Tool can also help individuals register for the $1,400 third round of Economic Impact Payments (also known as stimulus checks) and claim the Recovery Rebate Credit for any amount of the first two rounds of Economic Impact Payments they missed. People do not need to have children to attend these events and sign up for Economic Impact Payments.
Anyone who is unable to attend this weekend but still needs to file a 2020 tax return may be able to use IRS Free File to file for free online if their income is $72,000 or less. People who don’t need to file a 2020 return can also use the Non-filer Sign-up Tool to register for the advance Child Tax Credit payments, the third round of the Economic Impact Payment and the Recovery Rebate Credit.
About the Advance Child Tax Credit
The Advance Child Tax Credit was authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act that was enacted in March. The IRS normally calculates the payment based on 2020 tax returns, including those who use the Non-filer Sign-up Tool. If that return is not available because it hasn't been filed or is still being processed, they will determine the initial payment amounts using the 2019 return or the information entered using the Non-filers tool that was available in 2020 instead.
The Child Tax Credit is "refundable," meaning that even if people don’t owe income tax, they can receive a refund if they’re eligible; but they must file a tax return or register with the Non-filer Sign-up Tool to get it. People can use the Advance Child Tax Credit Eligibility Assistant to check their eligibility.
The IRS is issuing these payments by direct deposit to make sure people have easy access to their money as long as correct banking information has previously been provided to the IRS. Otherwise, people will be mailed a payment.
The IRS encourages people to request payments via direct deposit. People who don't have a bank account can visit the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation website for details on opening an account online; use the FDIC's BankFind tool to locate an FDIC-insured bank; or find banks and credit unions that can open an account online by seeing the lists on BankOn, American Bankers Association, Independent Community Bankers of America and National Credit Union Administration. Veterans can use the Veterans Benefits Banking Program.
The first monthly payments of the expanded Child Tax Credit were made on July 15, and will be sent monthly through December 15. Eligible families will receive a payment of up to $300 per month for each child under age 6, and up to $250 per month for each child ages 6 to 17.
Resources:
Advance Child Tax Credit Payments in 2021
FAQs on the 2021 Child Tax Credit and Advance Child Tax Credit Payments.