Dear Constituent,

Am writing to share great news for every family with children. The American Rescue Plan, passed by Congress and signed by President Biden, is providing the largest Child Tax Credit ever.

The Child Tax Credit increased from its current $2,000 per child to $3,000 per child for children over the age of six and $3,600 for children under the age of six. The age limit was also raised from 16 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).

If your family meets those qualifications and you filed a tax return for 2020, you will automatically receive monthly payments, starting in July, without having to take any action.

But if you are a low-income family and did not file a federal tax return because you didn't earn enough income, you must sign up in order to receive the Child Tax Credit. You can sign up here by clicking this link.  The deadline for signing up is July 15, 2021.

Signing up through this online tool will also allow individuals to receive the $1,400 stimulus check included in the American Rescue Plan, as well as the two prior pandemic relief stimulus payments, if they have not yet received them.

If you are a low-income family who didn't file a tax return in 2020, here's what you need to sign up via the online tool:

• Full name, current mailing address, email address, and date of birth
• Valid Social Security numbers (or other taxpayer IDs) for you and your dependents
• Bank account number, type and routing number, if you have one

Reminder, you do not need to use this online sign-up tool if you filed a federal tax return for 2020. Tax filers will automatically receive the monthly increased Child Tax Credit payments, starting in July. You can use this tool to calculate the amount of your monthly tax credit.

If you have friends or family members who may not have filed a 2020 federal tax return because they didn't earn enough income, or who may have not received their past stimulus payments, please urge them to use the sign up tool. The number of children and families who get the help they deserve from the American Rescue Plan will depend greatly on reaching those who have not regularly filed tax returns and urging them to do so.

It's an honor to serve you in the state Senate.

Sincerely,

Nancy Skinner
State Senator, District 9