Vice President Harris and Secretary Yellen Headline Day of Action Event Alongside White House ARP Coordinator Gene Sperling, Mayors and Major Non-Profits to Encourage Americans to Sign Up for the Expanded Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit
The American Rescue Plan Made Significant Changes to Two Critical Tax Relief Programs.
- Expanded the Child Tax Credit from $2,000 per child to $3,600 for children under 6 and $3,000 for children between 6 and 17.
- Nearly Tripled the Earned Income Tax Credit for workers without dependent children - from ~$540 to up to $1,500 for 17 million workers without dependent children and made previously ineligible younger workers (19-24) who are not half-time or full-time students, and older workers (65+) newly eligible for the expanded Earned Income Tax Credit.
February 8th is a Day of Action to Ensure All Eligible Americans Sign Up for These American Rescue Plan Tax Cuts.
- Families must file a tax return in 2022 to receive the second half of the Child Tax Credit. While the families of 61 million children received advance monthly payments between July and December 2021, families need to file a tax return to receive the second half.
- By filing a tax return, families that did not receive the advance payments in 2021 can still get the full Child Tax Credit, as well as the up to $1,400-per-person Economic Impact Payment that they might have missed. Some taxpayers with qualifying children - like those who welcomed a new baby in 2021 or those who haven't filed taxes in recent years and did not use the non-filer portal - can get their full Child Tax Credit by filing their tax returns. Eligible families that did not receive the up to $1,400 per person Economic Impact Payment included in the American Rescue Plan can claim those payments by filing a tax return this year.
- Many families who are eligible for the Child Tax Credit are also eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit and can get thousands of dollars in additional tax relief by filing their tax return this year. In addition, the American Rescue Plan nearly tripled the EITC for workers without dependent children to $1,500 and made millions more Americans eligible.
New Government Website - ChildTaxCredit.Gov - Directs Americans to Tax-Filing Assistance.
The Day of Action coincides with the recent re-launch of the new and improved ChildTaxCredit.gov. The revamped website has several new features to help taxpayers file their taxes and access the remainder of the expanded Child Tax Credit, the full amount of the Child Tax Credit, and/or the Earned Income Tax Credit as tax filing season begins.
To help Americans navigate tax filing season, the website features a new tool that directs taxpayers to free assisted filing options that suit them based on answers to a handful of simple questions. These options include both virtual and in-person support in multiple languages. Many of the organizations who have answered the Administration's call to action are leveraging the new ChildTaxCredit.gov for assistance.
Congressional Champions Join the Day of Action.
U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) and U.S. Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.) will headline a press call on the Day of Action encouraging all Americans to file their taxes to access the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit.
Hundreds of Non-Profits and Community-Based Organizations Are Taking Action to Reach Families Across the Country.
Hundreds of non-profits, community-based organizations, religious organizations, veterans' organizations, youth organizations, disability organizations, seniors' organizations, health and medical organizations, foster care organizations, and more made commitments to take a wide range of actions, today and throughout the tax filing seasons.
- Events in all 50 states and Puerto Rico throughout tax filing season to encourage families to file their taxes and connect them with tax filing assistance. Major non-profits and faith-based organizations including AARP, UnidosUS, United Way Worldwide, the Partnership for America's Children, Coalition on Human Needs, the Arc of the United States, the National Community Action Partnership, NETWORK Catholic Lobby for Social Justice, Friends Committee on National Legislation, Salvation Army, National Association of Evangelicals, National Council of Jewish Women, the Jewish Federations of North America, Catholic Charities USA, and more have committed to host community events to ensure Americans receive the tax credits they are eligible for.
- Texting campaigns to direct families to tax filing assistance. Organizations including but not limited to the National Urban League, the Hispanic Federation, Think of Us, the Shah Family Foundation and FindYourFunds, the Community Child Care Council (4Cs) of Alameda County, and Common Sense Media will launch direct texting campaigns.
- Trainings for frontline workers and service providers to ensure they encourage clients to file their taxes and direct them to assistance. Groups including Children at Risk and the Texas Family Leadership Council, Children's Action Alliance, Partnership for America's Children, Lutheran Services of America, UnidosUS, American Public Human Services Association, and Hunger Free America will train hundreds of frontline workers to help families navigate tax filing.
- Hosting Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites to connect people with in-person tax preparation assistance, including those run by StreetCred at Boston Medical Center, Lincoln VITA, Educational Alliance, United Way, and AARP.
- Developing and providing free tax preparation online services including United Way's My Free Taxes, AARP's Tax Counseling for the Elderly, and Code for America's Get Your Refund.
- Sharing information on the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit through social media channels, with a reach totaling 16.7 million people including campaigns led by MomsRising, Prosperity Now, National Council of Jewish Women, and dozens of other organizations.
State and Local Governments Commit to Action Throughout Tax Filing Season.
During tax filing season, state and local leaders will take action on CTC/EITC enrollment, including:
- California will continue ongoing awareness activities through a variety of NGO and local government channels, including outreach and education to support prioritizing uptake of financial supports through a public-private partnership investing $30 million in community-based organizations to reach people where they live, work and play.
- Illinois through its "Ladder Up" program, will continue supporting tax prep for residents with incomes below 200% of the poverty level and rely on a network of professional tax prep staff and volunteers.
- New York will continue encouraging New Yorkers to take advantage of Free File software, which can help millions of taxpayers claim valuable tax credits without the cost of hiring a paid tax preparer.
- Oregon Department of Human Services will work with several other state agencies and community organizations to spread the word to "file your taxes." Agencies and partners can "take turns" reinforcing the main message to encourage Oregonians to find a tax filing assister near them.
- National Community Action Partnership the 200 Community Action Agencies that are units of local governments will do CTC/EITC outreach, with a number of them directly operating VITA sites.
- Chicago, IL will launch a series of webinars and trainings in partnership with elected officials as well as conduct a Tax-a-Thon event at Olive-Harvey College through VITA partners and Ladder Up Chicago.
- Kansas City, MO will continue leveraging its Emergency Rental Assistance hub to assist residents with applying for and obtaining the CTC/EITC, and promoting information on platforms and channels including the City's quarterly news magazine.
- Newark, NJ will launch a virtual kick-off event with Mayor Baraka and New Jersey Citizen Action to promote their free tax preparation services.
- Detroit, MI will kick off "Ten Days of Action" including a United Way for Southeast Michigan Town Hall, and email and text message campaigns to city subscribers, public school community district subscribers, and state social services recipients.
- Hartford, CT will launch an SMS campaign sending direct text messages to residents, as well as radio, and media campaigns. Hartford has also trained local librarians to serve as navigators for individuals who need tax filing assistance.
- Houston, TX will amplify CTC/EITC on official channels and to their Employee News communication platform which services 22,000+ city employees.
- Lansing, MI: will continue partnering with Capital Area United Way to promote CTC/EITC to targeted households and conduct outreach at events such as their utility assistance events.
- Los Angeles County, CA will continue a text-message campaign in partnership with the United Ways of California, and ensuring county residents are connected to VITA resources.
- Louisville, KY will continue their Tax Time Connect initiative with VITA and Bank On Louisville to promote banking access and CTC/EITC, expand VITA capacity, and partner with the Louisville Urban League in-person support.
- Miami Dade County, CA will partner across county departments to promote local free income tax preparation services through VITA as well as conduct outreach at existing resource fairs, canvassing, radio, info cards.
