By Fatima Hussein
Associated Press
Washington - Million Americans who have never presented a tax return will have to do so this year in order to claim what corresponds to them under the tax credit improved by children.
Previously, only people who earned enough money to owe income taxes could qualify for the full credit.
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But as part of the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 pandemic relief package, President Joe Biden expanded the program, increasing payments to $3,600 annually for each child 5 and younger and $3,000 for those with between 6 and 17 years old.
Monthly payments have risen to $300 for each child 5 years old or younger and $250 for those between 5 and 17 years old.
The Government began sending the payments - a total of 93,000 million dollars - on a monthly basis as of last July.
Now, there are six more months of payments waiting to be claimed.
The undocumented must also submit their tax return for the year 2021
Jan. 26, 202201:25
And some families still have not received any of the benefits that correspond to them.
In total, it is estimated that 193,000 million dollars remain to be claimed.
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The only way to receive that money is to file the income tax return.
Some questions and answers about who is entitled to the credit and how to obtain it:
Who gets the child tax credit?
More than 36 million families received advance payments in December alone, which was the last month advance monthly payments were sent to households.
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Families are entitled to the full credit if their 2021 adjusted gross income was $150,000 or less for married couples filing jointly, or $75,000 for single parents.
How do I know if I qualify and what happens if I should not tax?
Regardless of whether or not a family owes tax money or has previously filed taxes, they will need to file a return to get all or the rest of the money.
Qualifying families who have not received any advance child tax credit payments during 2021 will be able to claim the full amount of the child tax credit on their federal tax return.
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Families who are unsure if they received payments, or potentially received paper checks that were not cashed, can visit the Child Tax Credit Update Portal to see the amount of credit they should have received.
Additionally, families who have received payments should have received a
Letter 6419, 2021 advance CTC
notification , which includes information about the amount of advance payments families have received and tax information for reporting purposes.
However, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has said that some people may have received incorrect information on their forms.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen encourages Americans to take advantage of tax credits, including the expanded Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit, in the South Court Auditorium on the White House campus on Tuesday, March 8. February 2022, in Washington. Patrick Semansky / AP
The portal can help people who want to confirm the correct amount they should have received.
Despite the inconsistencies in the documentation, the IRS advises that taxpayers keep the letter, and any other IRS communication about the advances, with their tax records.
What is the best way to declare?
The IRS encourages people to file their taxes electronically to process forms faster, and provides links on the agency's website to free filing sites like GetYourRefund.org, which helps families earning less than about $66,000. a year to file your taxes for free.
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The organization partners with the IRS Certified Volunteer Taxpayer Assistance Organization and offers free help in English and Spanish.
Another option is MyFreeTaxes.com, which provides virtual assistance to people making $58,000 or less to file their federal and state taxes for free.
This service is offered through the United Way.
The IRS also has a tool to help people identify other free filing sites that offer tax help.
What if I live outside of the 50 states?
Although the coronavirus relief package included child tax credit benefits for residents of Puerto Rico, they are not eligible to receive the advance monthly payments.
Instead, residents of Puerto Rico can receive the full amount of the child tax credit to which they are entitled by filing a federal income tax return this year.
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Additionally, residents of American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, or the US Virgin Islands may be entitled to full payments of the child tax credit, but will need to contact the tax agency of your local territory.
Who can help me solve this?
The IRS has launched a website called ChildTaxCredit.gov, which lists the criteria filers must meet to receive the full credit.
In addition, the federal agency will begin offering walk-in assistance with IRS volunteers in limited locations for people who need help filing their taxes, beginning February 12.
Thirty-five tax assistance centers across the country will be open from 9 am to 4 pm on the second Saturday of the next four months.
The deadline for filing taxes is April 18.
