Are you concerned that the IRS is sending you more or less than you qualify for? The advance 2021 payments are based on the latest tax return processed (usually 2020, occasionally 2019). So if a family has different circumstances this year, like income or kids, the amount the IRS calculated could now be inaccurate or outdated. Child tax credit checks might also be too little or too much due to complications with eligibility or simply a glitch by the tax agency.
By answering a few quick questions with our child tax credit calculator below, you can confirm what your family’s total should be over the course of 2021 and 2022. If you don’t need the cash immediately, or if you’re worried about math errors, we’ll tell you how to opt out of the monthly payments and receive the remaining credit next year. We can also tell you what to expect during tax season in 2022. This story has been updated recently.