Child Tax Credit: Colorado Families Begin To Receive Relief

Colorado families will start to receive their first monthly Child Tax Credit payment Thursday, state officials announced.

The recently expanded credit, which is part of the American Rescue Plan, will go to around 630,000 families — or 88 percent of children in our state, officials said.

Eligible Colorado families are set to automatically receive up to $3,600 per child per year. Up to $250 per month for each child (ages 6 to 17) will be distributed, and up to $300 per month for each child under age 6, officials said.

The monthly payments will continue until December, and families or individuals can claim the other half of their Child Tax Credit when filing taxes in early 2022.

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Thursday marks Child Tax Credit Day in Colorado, Gov. Jared Polis announced. Our state has recently funded a new state child credit that will provide additional support to Colorado families with young children, Polis said.

“The federal Child Tax Credit and the state CTC will play a critical role in powering Colorado’s comeback and ensuring that hardworking families and individuals have more money in their pockets to support their children, help grow our economy and thrive,” Polis said in a statement.

“For some, this help means summer camp, better food, enriching after-school activities, or help with rent, this is major tax relief—$3,000 to $3,600 per child—for the vast majority of families. We want as many Colorado families as possible to have the chance to receive this tax relief.”

The Polis administration has doubled the state Earned Income Tax Credit from 10 percent to 20 percent. Under the new state credit, an estimated 155,000 Colorado families will now be able to claim a refundable state Child Tax Credit of up to $1,080 for children under age 6, depending on income level.

"If you didn’t file your 2019 or 2020 federal tax return, you need to take action to get these important payments," the governor's office said in a news release.

To check eligibility status for the federal Child Tax Credit, visit the IRS website, the governor's office said. The quickest way to get these payments is to file your 2019 or 2020 return normally. If you didn’t file, visit the following link to answer questions to determine your eligibility status. The IRS has a Child Tax Credit non-filer tool that can be used to claim this credit and many other resources to support families who do not automatically receive their first check Thursday.