LI Reps Urge Parents To File Taxes, Qualify For Child Tax Credit

WASHINGTON, DC — The expanded child tax credit, which is available under the American Rescue Plan, will benefit over 400,000 children on Long Island, the region’s Democratic Congressional caucus members announced Friday as they urged families to file their taxes on time to take advantage of the provision.

U.S. reps Thomas Suozzi and Kathleen Rice hosted a Zoom meeting to remind Long Island families to file their 2020 Federal tax returns by Monday, noting the expanded child tax credit has increased payouts to $3,600 for every child under six years old, as well as $3,000 for children from six to 17 years old.

Children over 18 years old, and full-time college students who are 19 to 24 years old, also qualify for up to $500 under the plan.

Under the provision, full payments are available for single parents making up to $75,000, or families making up to $150,000 per year, but the credit phases out by $50 for every $1,000 of income over the $75,000 for individuals and $150,000 for joint filers, officials said. The credit would equal $0 for single filers with income of $240,000 and married filers with $440,000, according to the provision.

Suozzi said that anyone with children under 17, might be eligible for “thousands of dollars under the expanded Child Tax Credit,” urging parents to “make sure” they file by Monday.

“The expanded Child Tax Credit is a major boost for New York families and families across America,” he said.

Rice said that in her district, over 100,000 children would stand to benefit from the expanded credit.

“This is money directly in the pocket of families to put food on the table and pay the bills,” she said.

Congressman Gregory Meeks said the American Rescue plan makes it possible for the federal government to be able to “give direct payments to most Americans, get more vaccines in arms throughout the country and reopen our schools but there is still more coming.”

“The Child Tax Credit from the American Rescue Plan will help families pay for childcare, healthcare, daily living and expenses and more,” he said.

Suozzi’s office said that the Internal Revenue Service is reporting that it is on track to begin sending out the “advance payments” as soon as July and will continue to distribute them monthly through December of this year.

Here’s the breakdown of how the expanded Child Tax Credit will help families across Long Island’s five congressional districts:

• In both the 1st and 2nd Congressional Districts, 70% of the children would benefit from monthly child tax credit checks. Three thousand five hundred children will be “lifted out of poverty,” in the 1st Congressional District while that number is slightly larger, coming in at 3,900 in the 2nd Congressional District, according to a news release.
• In the 3rd Congressional District, 56% of children would benefit from monthly child tax credit checks, with 3,700 children being “lifted out of poverty,” Suozzi’s office said.
• In the 4th Congressional District, 65.8% of children would benefit from the monthly child tax credit checks, with 5,500 children being “lifted out of poverty.” Suozzi’s office said.
• In the 5th Congressional District, 83.5% of children would benefit from the monthly child tax credit checks, with 9,500 children being “lifted out of poverty,” Suozzi’s office said.