I filed my 2020 taxes before the increase in child tax credit, is there anything I can do to get past year’s increase as a credit on my 2021 filing?

[jkgriffiths93]

I had one child under 6 at the end of 2020 so I received the $2,000 credit when I filed my taxes at the start of February but then the tax credit went up to $3,600 when Biden signed the American Rescue Plan in the middle of March. I didn’t do anything to amend my 2020 filing so is there anything I can do to get that $1,600 difference as a credit on my 2021 tax filing?

[DoninGA · Accepted solution]

The increased child tax credit is only effective on the 2021 tax return.  When you file your 2021 tax return and your child has been entered as a dependent and is under the age of 6 then the $3,600 Child Tax Credit will be included on your tax return.