As we continue our outreach efforts to encourage families to claim the expanded 2021 Child Tax Credit, we want to keep you updated on the latest information to help connect families to the CTC. Today, we want to make sure you know that even though Tax Day 2022 has passed, immigrants with lapsed Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) can still renew their ITINs and claim the CTC for any child in their household with a Social Security Number.

Families with one or more adult with a lapsed ITIN can renew their ITIN by submitting a form W-7, along with a paper return, to claim the 2021 Child Tax Credit and other credits. More information on this process is available here. Unfortunately they will need to file a paper return with their W-7 and cannot use the websites. This means it will take a while for them to get their refunds.

Families where the tax filers have Social Security numbers or current ITINs can still file a tax form to claim the CTC and other credits they may be entitled to for tax year 2021, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC), Rescue and Recovery Credit (RRC – the third stimulus payment) and American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC). If their income is below $12,550 (single) or $25,100 (for married couples) the April 18 deadline did not apply to them. Families with higher incomes should also file; if they were due a refund, there is no penalty, and if they owe taxes, the sooner they file, the smaller the penalty.

Unfortunately, individuals who did not secure an ITIN for the first time by April 18, 2022, will not be able to receive the 2021 CTC. 

Though it is unfortunate that families who never secured ITINs can no longer access the 2021 CTC, those individuals who have expired ITINs are still eligible. We encourage you to continue to reach out to them to let them know this money is available. Please check out our Partner and Family toolkits on various resources to assist mixed-status families in learning more on how to file for the CTC.