CHICAGO – State Senator Cristina Pacione-Zayas (D-Chicago) wants residents of the 20^th District to know that they could be eligible for the federal Child Tax Credit even if they did not file taxes in 2019 or 2020.

“The American Rescue Plan’s Child Tax Credit will provide an unprecedented amount of relief to families, and they should take full advantage of it,” Pacione-Zayas said. “Even if you did not file taxes in 2019 or 2020, you can still get this relief by filling out the non-filer application on the IRS website.”

According to data provided by the White House, there are hundreds of residents in the 20^th District who did not file taxes in 2019 and 2020 who are eligible to sign up as non-filers to receive the Child Tax Credit. People with Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers or Social Security Numbers are eligible to apply. More information and the application are available on the White House website.

The Child Tax Credit will provide families with children under 6 years old $2,000 to $3,600 per child, and families with children from ages 6 to 17 $2,000 to $3,000 per child. To get money into people’s bank accounts quicker, the IRS will be sending families half of their 2021 Child Tax Credit as a monthly payment of $250 to $300 per child through the end of the year. Those who filed taxes in 2019 and 2020 should receive those payments automatically.

“Although payments started on July 15, families who sign up as non-filers can still get the full amount of this credit no matter when they sign up,” Pacione-Zayas said. “I urge everyone to check their eligibility and sign up to receive this relief if they are eligible.”

Families can check their eligibility on the IRS website and sign up as non-filers at any time.