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January 27, 2022
Dear Friend,
One of my most important jobs as your Congressman is to be your liaison to the federal government. With tax season underway, I wanted to share some valuable materials for tax preparation and important information on the expanded Child Tax Credit payments. If you run into issues with the IRS, my office and I are here to help. Below you’ll find some important resources to keep handy this tax season.
The 2022 filing season opened on January 24 and will close on April 18 for most individuals. Folks should file electronically as early as possible and opt for direct deposit whenever possible, as the IRS is expecting backlogs and this will be the quickest way to receive any refund that you may be due.
| Child Tax Credit Payments |
Last year, I helped pass the American Rescue Plan that President Biden signed into law, which included expanded Child Tax Credits for families with children. The Child Tax Credit was expanded to $3,600 for children under age 6 and to $3,000 for children ages 6 to 17.
Half of the credit was paid in monthly payments of $250 or $300 (depending on the age of the child) to deliver more immediate relief to families, and the remainder will be paid out upon filing 2021 tax returns. If you received payments less than your eligibility, or did not receive them at all, you need to file a tax return to claim any outstanding credit.
Here is some important information on the Child Tax Credit from the IRS:
- The IRS will send Letter 6419 in January of 2022 to provide the total amount of advance Child Tax Credit payments that were received in 2021. The IRS urges taxpayers receiving these letters to make sure they hold onto them to assist them in preparing their 2021 federal tax returns in 2022.
- Recipients will need to compare the amount of payments received during 2021 with the amount of the Child Tax Credit that can be claimed on their 2021 tax return.
- Those who received less than the amount they are eligible for can claim a credit for the remaining amount. Those that received more than they are eligible for may need to repay some or all of the excess amount.
- To help eligible families properly claim the credit when they prepare and file their 2021 tax return, the IRS has updated frequently-asked-questions (FAQs) for the 2021 Child Tax Credit and Advance Child Tax Credit.
Roughly 85% of children in Texas’ 32nd Congressional District benefited from the expanded Child Tax Credit payments. I was proud to deliver targeted economic relief to North Texas families.
| Free Tax Preparation Help |
The IRS website, IRS.gov is the quickest and easiest resource for assistance while preparing taxes. Establishing an online account on IRS.gov can provide information on your refund and answers to tax questions on a multitude of topics.
Some folks may be eligible for free tax preparation help. Visit the IRS website for information on the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program and the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) program.
Another resource is the Taxpayer Advocate Service, an independent organization within the IRS working to ensure that taxpayers are treated fairly and understand their rights. They offer free help as you work to file your taxes and resolve tax problems. More information about the Taxpayer Advocate Service in Texas is available here.
| Help from Rep. Allred’s office |
As your Representative, I will continue to work with the IRS to provide constituents with the most up to date information regarding tax filing and receiving your refund.
If you encounter any issues with the IRS, or any other federal agency, please contact my office for assistance at (972) 972-7949 or start a case online on my website. My constituent advocates and I are here to help.
Sincerely,
Colin Allred
Member of Congress
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