United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver II (D-MO) is urging Missouri families to file their taxes before the upcoming May 17 deadline to ensure they receive advance monthly Child Tax Credit payments from the American Rescue Plan as soon as possible.

As part of the American Rescue Plan, families could get monthly payments of up to $300 per child per month beginning as soon as July. The best way to ensure eligible families receive their payments quickly is to file a 2020 tax return by the deadline so the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has the most up-to-date information to calculate and issue advance monthly payments.

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 relief package also authorized advance monthly payments of the Child Tax Credit through December 2021. Beginning as soon as July and running through December, eligible families can get up to $300 per month per child for children ages 0 to 5 and $250 per month per child for children ages 6 to 17.

Families will qualify for a full credit if their income is below $75,000 for single filers, $112,000 for people filing as head of household or $150,000 for people who are married and filing jointly. Children are eligible if they are your children, adopted children, stepchildren, half-siblings, foster children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews or certain other relatives. The adult filing taxes must have a Social Security Number or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.

To be eligible, children must:
· Have a Social Security number;
· Live with you for at least half of the year;
· Be under age 18 as of December 31, 2021; and
· Be claimed on your tax return.

Families can file taxes for free online through the IRS Free File program at https://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile/>.