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Pingree Urges Maine Families to File Taxes Before May 17 & Get Advance Child Tax Credits ASAP

As a Part of the American Rescue Plan, 36,100 Households in 1st District Could Get Up to $300 Per Child Every Month

Washington, May 10, 2021

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) is urging families in Maine’s 1st Congressional District to file their taxes before the upcoming May 17th deadline to ensure they receive the accurate amount in new advance monthly Child Tax Credit payments they are entitled to as soon as possible. 

As a part of the American Rescue Plan, which she helped pass, Pingree said families could get monthly payments of up to $300 per child beginning as soon as July. Pingree said the best way to ensure eligible families receive their payment is to quickly file their 2020 tax return (even if they don’t have earnings or don’t normally file) because the IRS needs tax return information to calculate and issue advance monthly payments.

“The American Rescue Plan is one of the most important pieces of legislation I’ve ever voted for, and in no small part due to the historic expansion of the Child Tax Credit. The numbers are staggering—83.7% of children in my district are projected to gain from the expansion of the Child Tax Credit, which would lift 5,100 children out of poverty,” said Pingree. “Every family deserves the chance to build a better life for their children, and the advance monthly payments of the Child Tax Credit help set our kids up for success. The life-changing opportunities made possible by the Child Tax Credit are possible if you file your tax return before May 17th, even if you don’t normally file.”

An overwhelming number of Maine families can benefit from the Child Tax Credit:

  • 83.7% of children in Maine’s 1st Congressional district would gain from an expanded and improved tax credit (108,000 children).
  • The average benefit for 36,100 households is $2,500. 
  • The expanded and improved Child Tax Credit will lift 5,100 children in Maine’s 1st Congressional district out of poverty (1,700 of those kids are under the age of six). 2,400 children can be lifted out of deep poverty, when a household's annual income falls below 50 percent of the poverty line. Families with children in poverty will receive $4,000 on average. 

More information about the Child Tax Credit, passed as a part of the American Rescue Plan:

  • HOW MUCH FAMILIES WILL RECEIVE: The American Rescue Plan expanded the Child Tax Credit to up to $3,600 per child for children ages 0 to 5 and $3,000 per child for children ages 6 to 17. The bill also authorized advance monthly payments of the Child Tax Credit through December 2021. Beginning as soon as July and running through December, qualifying families can get up to $300/month per child for children ages 0 to 5 and $250/month per child for children ages 6 to 17. Families will get the remaining amount of their expanded Child Tax Credit when they file their 2021 tax returns in 2022. 
  • WHO IS ELIGIBLE: Families will qualify for the full credit amount if their income is below $75,000 for single filers, $112,000 for people filing as a head of household, or $150,000 for people who are married and filing jointly. To be eligible, children  must:
    • Have a Social Security Number;
    • Live with you for at least half of the year;
    • Be under 18 as of December 31, 2021;
    • Be claimed on your tax return;
    • Be your children, adopted children, stepchildren, half-siblings, foster children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews, or certain other relatives.

Eligible families can file their taxes for free online through the IRS Free File program: https://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile/. 

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