In the News

Today, U.S. Representatives Matt Cartwright (PA-08) and Susan Wild (PA-07) held a video press conference to urge hardworking families in Eastern Pennsylvania to file their taxes before the upcoming May 17 deadline to ensure they receive the accurate amount in new advance monthly Child Tax Credit payments as soon as possible.

As part of the American Rescue Plan Reps. Cartwright and Wild helped pass, families could get monthly payments of up to $300 per child beginning as soon as July. The representatives say the best way to ensure eligible families receive their payments is to file a 2020 tax return – even if they don’t normally file.

“After a year in which so many parents and children faced education, housing and food security challenges, we want to make sure our kids are set up for success going forward,” said Rep. Cartwright. “This enhanced benefit is a foundation to jumpstart kids’ learning and enable more parents to get back to work again. I urge all eligible families in Eastern Pennsylvania to claim this tax credit ahead of the filing deadline next week.”

In Pennsylvania’s Eighth District, an estimated 126,100 children, or 90 percent of all children in the district, will benefit from the expanded and improved Child Tax Credit.

“It’s hard to overstate the tremendous good that the American Rescue Plan is doing for families across Pennsylvania, and in coming weeks, we’ll see even more direct relief heading to hardworking Pennsylvanians in the form of the expanded and improved Child Tax Credit, which will help set America’s children up for success,” said Rep. Wild. “More than 85 percent of children in my district will benefit from the Child Tax Credit, roughly 133,300 kids in total, and this funding will act as a critical lifeline for thousands of families. I am very proud to have fought for and passed the American Rescue Plan, and I am glad we were able to get important help like the Child Tax Credit into the hands of families across the Greater Lehigh Valley.”

The representatives were joined by Rick Kokas, CPA, the Interim Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Director of the United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties, who discussed how families can claim the credit on their 2020 tax filings.

“The Child Tax Credit can be a big help for you, your children and your family, so take advantage of it,” said Kokas. “The way to do it is by filing your 2020 taxes, even if your income is limited or normally you wouldn’t need to file a tax return. The IRS is going to use that information to get you those advance payments. This is the best way to get you that money sooner, rather than later.”

Kokas also highlighted Lackawanna and Wayne County United Way’s online filing tool, through which families can file taxes on their own guided by a step-by-step process, or with the help of a volunteer through the online platform. That filing tool can be accessed at https://www.uwlc.net/myfreetaxescom.

Families can file taxes for free online through the IRS Free File Program at https://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile/.

Who qualifies for the Child Tax Credit Advance Monthly Payments?

• Families with an income below $75,000 for single-filers, $112,000 for people filing as the head of household and $150,000 for those who are married and filing jointly.
• To be eligible, children must:
• Have a Social Security number,
• Live with you for at least half of the year,
• Be under the age of 18 as of December 31, 2021, and
• Be claimed on your tax return.
• Children are eligible if they are your children, adopted children, stepchildren, half-siblings, grandchildren, nieces or nephews, or certain other relatives. The adult tax filer must have a Social Security Number or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.
• The Child Tax Credit will not affect disbursement of SNAP/Food Stamps, Medicaid, TANF Cash Assistance, SSI, or other public benefits.

How much is the Child Tax Credit advance monthly payment?

• Beginning July 2021 until December 2021, families can receive up to $300 each month per child ages 0 to 5, and $250 each month per child ages 6 to 17.
• The maximum expanded Child Tax Credit is $3,600 per child for children ages 0 to 5 and $3,000 per child for children ages 6 to 17.
• Families will receive the remaining Child Tax Credit when they file their 2021 tax return.

Families should file their taxes before the May 17 deadline even if they do not have earnings to report or do not normally file. The IRS needs information from tax returns to calculate and issue advance monthly payments.