ORLANDO, Fla. — Friday was supposed to be the fourth of six Child Tax Credit payments under President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, but many families discovered the deposits never showed up.
“Some people got theirs and some people still ain’t got it,” Calais Washington said, after approaching a Channel 9 crew that was out covering a separate assignment.
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Like many parents, Washington said her kids were expensive to take care of. She used the payments to cover bills and clothes, as well as entertainment for her children on the weekends.
Washington’s ability to more easily run her household is an example of why the Biden administration changed the credit payments this year. Instead of a lump sum deposited at tax time, the government withheld half of the designated amount for each family and is distributing it over a six-month period to encourage parents to apply it toward more routine expenses.
There have been changes to the Child Tax Credit for 2021 and the credit amounts will increase for many taxpayers. Learn more from #IRS at https://t.co/535gR8FJvp pic.twitter.com/ZfSgSHtTHB
— IRSnews (@IRSnews) September 15, 2021
When the plan was passed, experts predicted the adjustment would lift millions of children out of poverty.
Washington said she received her first two payments in July and August, but her portal wasn’t showing anything for September and October.
IRS officials said there had been issues with both months for some families but were puzzled when they heard her problem hadn’t yet been resolved.
“After the September payment was issued, the IRS resolved a technical issue, which the agency estimates caused fewer than 2% of CTC recipients not to receive their September payment on the scheduled payment date,” an agency press release said, explaining that it impacted families that had changed their bank or address information and that payments have since been made.
However, a press contact told Eyewitness News a greater number of families had been affected by a glitch that impacted October’s payment. The issue was quickly resolved, the person said, and payments would be deposited into people’s accounts this week.
The exact date varies depending on the bank each family uses, they added.
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If your portal doesn’t show at least a pending payment for October or you’re missing other deposits, the official said you should contact the IRS over the phone at 800-829-1040 or by scheduling an appointment at one of its Tax Assistance Centers. Local offices are located in Maitland, Daytona, Melbourne and Ocala.
The agency’s release said families with children younger than 17 who had not filed their 2020 tax returns should do so, even if they don’t make enough money to file normally. They’ll be eligible for their full Childcare Tax Credit, which will be spread over the remaining deposits.
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Cox Media Group
