CASTEN ENCOURAGES ILLINOIS FAMILIES TO BE ON LOOKOUT FOR CHILD TAX CREDIT MONTHLY PAYMENTS BEGINNING TODAY, JULY 15
Downers Grove, IL – U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) is encouraging hardworking families to be on the lookout for advance monthly payments of the Child Tax Credit of up to $300 per month per child beginning July 15th through December. The families of 2.5 million Illinois children will benefit from the Child Tax Credit Democrats passed as part of the American Rescue Plan, lifting 153,000 children out of poverty across our state.
- Nearly all families should get their monthly payments automatically beginning July 15th with no further action required.
- Families who did not file a tax return for 2019 or 2020 and who did not use the IRS Non-filers tool last year to sign up for the Economic Impact Payments, should go online and use the IRS Child Tax Credit Non-filer Sign-up Tool to sign up today.
Earlier this week, Casten sat down for a conversation on impact of the Child Tax Credit with Erica Parker, a local teacher and Urszula Tanouye, a mother of two elementary aged children who took leave from her career as a scientist to take care of her children at the start of the pandemic. They told their stories about the difference the Child Tax Credit will make in their lives. Click here or on the image below to watch.
"This is one of the most impactful things I've done as a Member of Congress," Rep. Casten said. "For an awful lot of families who are trying to choose between daycare and school supplies, the extra $300 a month will help ensure no parent has to make that painful choice. For others, this money will help cover childcare, afterschool activities, and save for college."
The American Rescue Plan included an historic expansion of the Child Tax Credit. The current expansion is set to expire after the 2021 tax year, but a permanent expansion is included in the American Families Plan, which President Biden and Congressional Democrats are now fighting to pass. Detailed information on the historic expansion of the Child Tax Credit can be found here.
"It's not every day, you have the opportunity to deliver a well-deserved tax cut for families and the most transformational anti child poverty legislation in a generation," continued Casten. "The direct payments hitting families' bank accounts starting today will cut child poverty in America in half. Now we've got to make them permanent by passing the American Families Plan."
Major Tax Relief for Nearly All Working Families:
37,500 hardworking households, covering 70% of all children, in the 6th District could get up to $300 per month, per child July-December and even more after filing their taxes next year.
How Much Is the Child Tax Credit Expansion from the American Rescue Plan?
The American Rescue Plan expanded the Child Tax Credit to up to $3,600 annually ($300 monthly) per child for children ages 0 to 5 and $3,000 annually ($250 monthly) per child for children ages 6 to 17. All working families will get the full credit if they make up to$150,000 for a couple or $112,500 for a family with a single parent (also called head of household). Individuals and families with incomes above the threshold but below $240,000 for an individual and $440,000 for a family will still be eligible for a monthly payment scaled to their income. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to use this calculator to find eligibility and amount of monthly checks.
Families will get their remaining expanded Child Tax Credit when they file their 2021 tax return.
Who Qualifies?
Families will qualify for a full credit if their income is below $75,000 for single filers, $112,000 for people filing as head of household, or $150,000 for people who are married and filing jointly. Individuals and families with incomes above the threshold but below $240,000 for an individual and $440,000 for a family will still be eligible for a monthly payment scaled to their income.
How Do I Get My Payment?
Nearly all hardworking families should get their monthly payments automatically beginning July 15th with no further action required. If you've filed tax returns for 2019 or 2020, or if you signed up to receive a stimulus check from the Internal Revenue Service, you will get this tax relief automatically. You do not need to sign up or take any action.
Families who did not file a tax return for 2019 or 2020 and who did not use the IRS Non-filers tool last year to sign up for the Economic Impact Payments, should go online and use the IRS Child Tax Credit Non-filer Sign-up Tool to sign up today.
Families who got their refunds from the IRS through direct deposit will get these payments in their bank account around the 15th of every month until the end of 2021. People who don't use direct deposit will receive their payment by mail around the same time.
Families will be able to determine their eligibility, check the status of their payments and more at IRS.gov/childtaxcredit2021 later this month.
Watch out for scams
According to IRS.gov: "The IRS urges everyone to be on the lookout for scams related to both Advance Child Tax Credit payments and Economic Impact Payments. The IRS 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, exclusively on IRS.gov. Any other option is a scam.
Watch out for scams using email, phone calls or texts related to the payments. Be careful and cautious: The IRS never sends unsolicited electronic communications asking anyone to open attachments or visit a non-governmental web site.
Fighting for families
Last month, Congressman Casten, Congresswoman Lauren Underwood, and Congressman Bill Foster held a press conference encouraging Illinois families to apply for the benefit which was expanded under the American Rescue Plan to help families and reduce child poverty. During the event, Shelley Bromberek-Lambert, Chief Reimagination Officer at YWCA, Michele?Begeron, Director of Development at SPARK discussed the importance of Child Tax Credits for the communities served by YWCA. Members were also joined by Colleen?Zavodny, a parent from Woodridge; Dana Merk, a parent from North Aurora; and Courtney Hill Michels, a parent from DeKalb who shared how the pandemic has impacted their families and how the Child Tax Credit benefits will help them pay for care essentials.
Click here or on the image below to view a video of Congressman Casten's remarks at the event. For more photos from the event, click here