Less than a week left for families to claim their 2021 Child Tax Credit

The November 15 deadline is fast approaching for families to take advantage of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) expansion of the 2021 Advance Child Tax Credit (ACTC) benefiting low-income families in Los Angeles County.

The Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) is engaged in a final push to inform local families, particularly those in hard-to-reach ethnic and non-English speaking communities.  The ACTC will reportedly help lift nearly 4.1 million children above the nationwide poverty line and reduce child poverty by more than 40 percent. 

“Our department is on a mission to inform local families who are at the highest risk of missing out on the 2021 ACTC and who we know need it most,” said DPSS director Antonia Jiménez.  “This tax credit is essential to the many families who will benefit from the tax credit.” 

Most eligible families receive Advance Child Tax Credit payments automatically, but many who are considered “non-filers” will need to first confirm their eligibility.  

Families that haven’t filed a tax return for 2019 or 2020 will need to claim their Child Tax Credit by signing up at www.irs.gov by November 15.

Additional information about the ACTC is available online on the IRS 2021 Advance Child Tax Credit FAQ page.