Congressman Gonzalez Urges Residents to File 2020 Taxes and Receive Child Tax Credit Under American Rescue Plan

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) is urging hardworking families in the 15th District of Texas to file their taxes before the upcoming June 15 deadline to ensure they receive the accurate amount in new advance monthly Child Tax Credit (CTC) payments they are entitled to as soon as possible. Congressman Gonzalez recently held a press conference with the United Ways of South Texas and the Coastal Bend to discuss the resources available to working families.

"Advance monthly payments of the Child Tax Credit will help set America's children up for success and put more money in the pockets of hardworking parents sooner, to pay for childcare or put gas in the car so they can go to work and build better lives for their families," said Congressman Gonzalez. "The best way to make sure you and your family receive the correct amount as soon as possible is to file a 2020 tax return, before June 15th– even if you don't normally file."

As part of the American Rescue Plan Congressman Gonzalez helped pass, families could get monthly payments of up to $300 per child beginning as soon as July. The best way to ensure eligible families receive their payments is to file a 2020 tax return – even if they don't have earnings to report or don't normally file – because the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) needs information from tax returns in order to calculate and issue advance monthly payments.

• Families can get free help preparing and filing their taxes at the list of locations found here.
• 94.5% of children in the 15th District of Texas will gain from the expanded and improved Child Tax Credit — 238,200 children.
• The average benefit for 61,100 households is $3,900.
• The expanded and improved Child Tax Credit lifts 29,300 children in the 15th District out of poverty.
• Because of the larger benefit for the youngest, 10,500 kids under the age of six are raised out of poverty.
• Families with children in poverty will receive $6,200 on average.
• 10,700 children in the 15th District of Texas will be lifted out of deep poverty.

IRS Guidance

The IRS urges community groups, non-profits, associations, education groups and anyone else with connections to people with children to share this critical information about the CTC. The IRS will be providing additional materials and information that can be easily shared by social media, email and other methods.

The IRS will provide more information about advance payments soon. Updated guidance can be found here as it becomes available.

How Much are the Child Tax Credit Advance Monthly Payments?

The American Rescue Plan expanded the Child Tax Credit to up to $3,600 per child for children ages 0 to 5 and $3,000 per child for children ages 6 to 17.

The American Rescue Plan also authorized advance monthly payments of the Child Tax Credit through December 2021. Beginning as soon as July and running through December, qualifying families can get up to:

• $300 a month per child for children ages 0 to 5.
• $250 a month per child for children ages 6 to 17.

Families will get their remaining expanded Child Tax Credit when they file their 2021 tax return.

Who Qualifies for the Child Tax Credit Advance Monthly Payments?

• 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.
• To be eligible, children must:
  • Have a Social Security number,
  • Live with you for at least half of the year,
  • Be under age 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, foster children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews, or certain other relatives. The adult filing taxes must have a Social Security Number or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.

How Can Families Get Help Preparing and Filing their Taxes for Free?

Free tax preparation services are generally available until the tax filing deadline. Families should file their taxes before the June 15 deadlineeven if they do not have earnings to report or do not normally file, because the IRS needs information from tax returns in order to calculate and issue advance monthly payments.

• Families can get free help preparing and filing their taxes at list locations found here.
• Families can file taxes for free online through the IRS Free File program at https://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile/.
• Families where the parent or caregiver is aged 50 or older can use this AARP tool to find free tax help near them at https://secure.aarp.org/applications/VMISLocator/searchTaxAideLocations.action.