Washington, DC — Today, Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-06) announced that over 100,000 children in Georgia’s Sixth District could benefit from the child tax credits she fought to procure in the passage of the American Rescue Plan. McBath is urging hardworking families to file their taxes before the upcoming May 17th deadline to ensure they receive the accurate amount in new advance monthly Child Tax Credit payments. The funding will lift nearly 7,000 children in the district out of poverty. The announcement comes as the first of this week’s highlights of local financial support coming to the Sixth District as part of McBath’s work in Congress, including investments in education and state and local programs.
As part of the American Rescue Plan McBath helped to 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.
- 121,600 children in GA-06 could benefit from the advance monthly payments (64% of all children in the district).
- 37,800 households in GA-06 could get an average total benefit of $2,600.
“Families in Georgia and across our country have weathered unimaginable challenges, and this is a tangible way we can support them. We can help set our children up for success with advance monthly payments of the Child Tax Credit and put more money in the pockets of hardworking parents—money that can be used to pay for childcare or put gas in the car as they go to work,” said McBath. “1 in 5 children in America live in poverty, and this funding can help feed children in need, build better lives for their families, and give every American child an opportunity at a brighter future.”
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 May 17th deadline even 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 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.