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Rep. Johnson urges hardworking families to file taxes before May 17 to get their advance child tax credit payments as soon as possible

May 13, 2021

52,000 Households in District Could Get Up to $300 Per Child Every Month Beginning this Summer as Part of American Rescue Plan Congressman Johnson Helped Pass, But Families Should File Taxes before May 17th to Get Their Payments as Soon as Possible

DECATUR, GA – Today, Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) is urging hardworking families in Georgia's Fourth District 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 they are entitled to as soon as possible.

Johnson said the expanded and improved Child Tax Credit could lift more than 14,000 children in Georgia's Fourth district out of poverty and more than half of those out of deep poverty.

As part of the American Rescue Plan Rep. Johnson helped pass, families could get monthly payments of up to $300 per child beginning as soon as July. Rep. Johnsonsaid 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 here.
  • 173,600 children in GA-04 could benefit from the advance monthly payments. That's 91.2% of all children in GA-04.
  • 52,000 households in GA-04 could get an average total benefit of $3,100.

"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 help fuel our economy while building better lives for their families," said Rep. Johnson. "The best way to make sure you and your family get the correct amount as soon as possible is to file a 2020 tax return, before May 17th – even if you don't normally file."

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?

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.

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