The Child Tax Credit expansion provides a historic opportunity to reduce child poverty in the United States by more than 40 percent. Nearly every family is eligible to receive the expanded Child Tax Credit this year, including families who haven’t filed a tax return and families who don’t have recent income. 

Each qualifying household can get up to $3,600 for each child under age 6 and $3,000 for each child between 6 and 17. The credit is not a loan, and it does not impact eligibility for public benefits. Families can receive half of their new credit through monthly payments between July and December 2021 and the remaining half in 2022 when they file a tax return.