In just a few weeks, monthly child tax credit payments will go out to U.S. households that are home to about 65 million kids, according to the IRS.
The expanded child tax credit was established in the American Rescue Plan signed into law in March. In 2021, the maximum enhanced child tax credit is $3,600 for children younger than age 6 and $3,000 for those between 6 and 17.
The credit will be distributed as an advance on 2021 taxes in monthly installments. For households getting the full benefit, those payments will be $300 per month for children under the age of 6 and $250 for those between the ages of 6 and 17.
Here’s what families need to know ahead of the July 15 start.
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Who qualifies for the maximum credit?
Most American families qualify for some amount of money.
The full credit is available to married couples who file taxes jointly and have children and adjusted gross income less than $150,000, or $75,000 for individuals. The enhanced tax credit will phase out for taxpayers who make more money and cease for individuals earning $95,000 and married couples earning $170,000 filing jointly.
Taxpayers who make more than that will still be eligible for the regular child tax credit, which is $2,000 per child under age 17 for families making less than $200,000 annually, or $400,000 for married couples.
What do I need to do?
Most eligible families don’t have to do anything right now, according to the IRS. The agency will use 2020 tax returns to determine eligibility or 2019 returns for those who haven’t filed taxes for last year.
In early June, the IRS started sending out 36 million letters to families who many be eligible for the credit and monthly payments.
Those families that traditionally don’t file taxes because they don’t have enough income but have children in their household who are eligible can now sign up for the benefit. On June 14, the IRS started a portal for nonfilers to register to receive the new credit.
If your family had a change in circumstance in the last year, that may mean you are eligible for a larger payment, or if you need to change where the benefit should be sent, the IRS will open another portal in June to give the agency that updated information. This includes having a baby, a large change in income or needing the payment to go to a different parent than claimed the child in 2020 (or 2019, if that’s the last tax return you have on file).
How will payments be sent?
As with the stimulus checks sent out by the IRS earlier this year and in 2020, most of the monthly child tax credit payments will be sent by direct deposit — some 80% of those eligible will get the money this way, according to the agency.
If the IRS has direct deposit information on your tax return, that is likely how you’ll receive the monthly credit. If you don’t have direct deposit, the IRS will also be sending out paper checks to some families.
When will future payments be sent?
The IRS said that future payments will be made on the 15th of each month, unless the 15th falls on a weekend or holiday, at which point the money will be sent on the closest business day. After the benefit first goes out July 15, families can expect subsequent payments on Aug.13, Sept. 15, Oct.15, Nov. 15 and Dec. 15.
So far, the monthly payments are only scheduled to continue through the end of 2021. Families will receive the second half of the credit when they file their 2021 taxes in 2022. But that could change — President Joe Biden has suggested making the enhanced credit available through 2025, and other Democrats want to make it a permanent benefit.
Can I opt out? What happens if I do?
Families can opt out of receiving the monthly payments for the credit through an IRS portal set to start in June. Those who do this won’t get the monthly amounts but will still receive the full credit they are eligible for when they file their 2021 taxes.
Some families may choose this route because they don’t need the monthly payments immediately or prefer to get a large lump sum of money back from the IRS as a tax refund, said Elaine Maag, a principal research associate at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center
“There’s evidence that shows that some people really like getting that large tax refund, and can use it as an opportunity to purchase a large household item like a refrigerator or put together first and last month’s rent so they can move,” she said.
To see how much you could expect, personal finance website Grow created a calculator that factors in your filing status, annual income and the number of dependents you have.
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