News

U.S. Representative Mike Doyle (D-PA-19) released information on how the expansion of the Child Tax Credit will impact constituents in Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania’s 18th Congressional District. The IRS will begin distributing monthly payments to eligible households starting on Thursday, July 15.

What are the benefits?

• • Over 86 percent of children in Pennsylvania’s 18th Congressional District will benefit from the expanded and improved Child Tax Credit.
  • The average benefit from the tax credit for almost 36,000 households is $2,800.
  • Families with children in poverty will receive an average benefit of $4,500.
  • Almost 7,500 children will be lifted out of poverty. This includes 4,500 children who are considered to be in “deep poverty” and 2,300 children under the age of six.

How much are families eligible for?

• • Families can receive up to $300/month per child, with a maximum total limit of $3,600 per child.
  • Children aged five and under can receive a maximum of $3,600 and those between six and 17 years are eligible for a maximum of $3,000.
  • Families with 18-year-old children and full-time college students ages 24 and under can receive a one-time payment of $500 per child.

Who is eligible?

The new child tax credit will benefit parents and guardians who:

• • earn up to $75,000 for single filers,
• • earn up to $112,000 for heads of household, or
  • earn up to $150,000 for married couples filing a joint return.

Benefits will be distributed to parents and guardians who filed their taxes in July 2021 and will last for one year. The Child Tax Credit will not affect Medicaid, SNAP/Food Stamps, TANF Cash Assistance, SSI, or other public benefits.

What led to the expansion?

The expansion of the child tax credit was made possible by the latest COVID-19 relief package, the American Rescue Plan Act. President Biden signed the bill into law on March 11, 2021. Over 27 million children across the United States will benefit from this expansion. Under the prior law, the child tax credit only offered up to $2,000 per qualifying child under the age of 17.

What are advance payments?

Families can receive up to 50 percent of their child tax credit before filing next year’s taxes. These advance payments will be made from July through December to all eligible taxpayers who have a main home in the United States for more than half of the year. Filing electronically with direct deposit can speed up advance child tax credit payments. Families will receive the remaining money when they file their taxes in 2022.

What do families need to do?

• • To see if you are eligible to receive these payments, use the Child Tax Credit Eligibility Assistant.
  • To change how/where your payments arrive, visit the Child Tax Credit Update Portal.
  • If you did not file a tax return in 2019 or 2020, use the Child Tax Credit Non-filer Sign-up Tool to trigger monthly payments.
  • Only use the official tools at irs.gov to share your personal information. The IRS will distribute payments without charge and will never contact you via text or email.

Read the Full Release

For more information, view this document, read the full press release, or visit the IRS website. More information on advanced payments will be shared on the IRS website soon. For questions, contact Just Harvest at 412.431.8960 or taxhelp@justharvest.org.