Taxpayers who qualified for a Child Tax Credit in 2025 and expect to qualify again in 2026 may choose to receive advance payments on this year’s Schedule M1CWFC. They can receive up to 50% of the current year Child Tax Credit in advance payments.

Taxpayers must file an original 2025 tax return by April 15, 2026, to choose advance payments. If they amend their return, impacting their Child Tax Credit, we will stop advance payments.

Taxpayers may choose to stop receiving advance payments by sending us a message through e-Services, calling us at 651-296-3781 or 800-652-9094, or emailing our Individual Income Tax Division.

Important Reminders

• Clients must make the election to receive advance payments each year; their election does not carry over from the previous year.
• A filing requirement is created for the following year if advance payments are elected.
• Once a return is filed, they cannot elect to receive advance payments if they did not elect it on the original return.
• Clients cannot change direct deposit information, they can only remove it which switches payment to a check. They can change to a check by calling us or using e-Services.

Tax year 2025 will be the first year that advance payments are reconciled on Schedule M1CWFC. Your client will receive a letter from us in January that tells them how much they received in payments. If they misplaced the letter, they can call us or log in to their e-Services account to find the amount. Inaccurately reported payments may delay the processing of the tax return.

Talk to Your Clients

As a tax professional, you are the expert and it’s important to help your clients decide if advance payments of the Child Tax Credit are right for them. While the new Minimum Credit provides a safety net by addressing your clients’ concerns that advance payments may need to be repaid under certain circumstances, having a direct conversation about certain factors will help make a more informed decision. 

These factors may impact advance payments:

• Age of qualifying children
• Minnesota residency changes from full-year to part-year
• Alternating parents claim children or divorce
• Significant increases to income
• Current Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments

For more information, check out our Advance Payments of the Child Tax Credit page on our website.

Questions?

Contact us.

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