June 14, 2021
The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service unveiled an online Non-filer Sign-up tool created to help eligible families who don’t usually file tax returns register for the monthly Advance Child Tax Credit payments, which are scheduled to begin July 15.
The tool is an update of last year’s IRS Non-filers tool, and is also designed to help eligible individuals who don’t normally file income tax returns 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 they may have missed of the first two rounds of Economic Impact Payments.
The tool, available only on IRS.gov, was developed in partnership with Intuit and delivered through the Free File Alliance. It gives eligible people who don’t make enough income to have an income tax return-filing obligation a free and easy way to provide the IRS with the basic information they need to figure and issue their Advance Child Tax Credit payments, such as name, address, and Social Security numbers. Often, These are often individuals and families who have little or no income, and may be experiencing homelessness or be a part of other underserved groups.
“We have been working hard to begin delivering the monthly Advance Child Tax Credit to millions of families with children in July,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. “This new tool will help more people easily gain access to this important credit as well as help people who don’t normally file a tax return obtain an Economic Impact Payment. We encourage people to review the details about this important new effort.”
The Non-filer Sign-up tool is for individuals who did not file a tax return for 2019 or 2020, and who didn't use the IRS Non-filers tool last year to register for Economic Impact Payments. The tool enables them to provide required information about themselves, their qualifying children age 17 and under, their other dependents, and their direct deposit bank information so that the IRS can deposit the payments directly into their checking or savings account as quickly as possible.
What You Need to Use the Child Tax Credit Non-filer Sign-up Tool
Full name
Current mailing address
Email address
Date of birth
Valid Social Security numbers (or other taxpayer IDs) for you and your dependents
Bank account number, type and routing number, if you have one
Identity Protection Personal Identification Number (IP PIN) you received from the IRS earlier this year, if you have one
No action needed by most families
Eligible families who already filed or plan to file 2019 or 2020 income tax returns should not use this tool. Once the IRS processes their 2019 or 2020 tax return, that information will be used to determine eligibility and issue advance payments.
Families who want to claim other tax benefits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit for low- and moderate-income families, should not use this tool. Instead, they should file a regular tax return. The Free File system, available on IRS.gov, is a fast and easy way to do this.
Public-private partnership plays vital role Intuit developed the Non-filer Sign-up tool for the IRS and delivers this tool through their participation in the Free File Alliance. Intuit has a long history of working closely with the IRS on innovative solutions, including last year’s Non-filers: Enter Payment Info Here tool. Intuit has also offered Free File Fillable Forms, the electronic version of IRS paper forms, for many years, which is also delivered through the Free File Alliance. Free File Fillable Forms gives all taxpayers the option to electronically file for free, regardless of income. There are no income limitation to use Free File Fillable Forms to file a 2020 tax return.
Watch out for scams The IRS urges everyone to be on the lookout for scams related to both the Advance Child Tax Credit payments and Economic Impact Payments. They emphasized that the only way to get either of these benefits is by either filing a tax return with the IRS or registering online through the Non-filer Sign-up tool. Since the tool is exclusive to IRS.gov. any other option is a scam.
Watch out for scams using email, phone calls or texts related to the payments. Be cautious: The IRS never sends unsolicited electronic communications asking anyone to open attachments or visit a non-governmental web site.
Other tools coming soon The IRS has created a special Advance Child Tax Credit 2021 page at IRS.gov/childtaxcredit2021, that contains up-to-date information about the credit and the advance payments.
The page already has a link to the Non-filer Sign-up tool. Over the next few weeks, it will include other useful new tools, including:
An interactive Child Tax Credit eligibility assistant to help families determine whether they qualify for the Advance Child Tax Credit payments.
The Child Tax Credit Update Portal, which will initially enable anyone who has been determined to be eligible for advance payments to see that they are eligible and unenroll/opt out of the advance payment program. Later, it will allow people to check on the status of their payments, make updates to their information and be available in Spanish.
Community partners can help The IRS urges community groups, non-profits, associations, education organizations and anyone else with connections to people with children to share this critical information about the Advance Child Tax Credit as well as other important benefits. The IRS will provide additional materials and information in the near future that can be easily shared by social media, email and other methods.
About the Advance Child Tax Credit The expanded and newly-advanceable Child Tax Credit was authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act, enacted in March. Normally, the IRS will calculate the payment based on a person’s 2020 tax return, including those who use the Non-filer Sign-up tool. If that return is not available because it hasn't been filed yet or is still being processed, the IRS 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 payment will be up to $300 per month for each child under age 6 and up to $250 per month for each child age 6 through 17.
To make sure families have easy access to their money, the IRS will issue these payments by direct deposit as long as correct banking information has previously been provided to the IRS. Otherwise, people should watch their mail around July 15 for amailed payment. The dates for the Advance Child Tax Credit payments are July 15, Aug. 13, Sept. 15, Oct. 15, Nov. 15 and Dec. 15.
Resources:
FAQs on the 2021 Child Tax Credit and Advance Child Tax Credit Payments