Note: This article's content applies to 2021 tax returns only.
You’ll need to enter any advance Child Tax Credit payments you (and your spouse) received in 2021 on your return. Refer to your (and your spouse’s) IRS letter 6419 to find the total amount of advance Child Tax Credit payments you received in 2021. If you don’t have it, go to the IRS to verify exactly how much you received.
It’s important to enter the exact amount you received on your tax return. Not having the right amount can cause delays in processing your return and any refund you’re owed, if any.
Once you have your letter or amount ready,
- Sign in to TurboTax and open or continue your return.
- Search for Child Tax Credit and Continue.
- Answer the question on the Let's start with where you spent the most time in 2021 screen and Continue.
- On the Tell us about any advance Child Tax Credit payments screen, answer Yes, enter the amount from your letter in the Tell us about any advance Child Tax Credit payments box, and Continue.
- If your spouse also received payments, be sure to enter that amount as well as a combined total for both of you.
- Answer the questions on the following screens, confirm your amount on the Let's recheck your advance Child Tax Credit payments screen, and Continue.
Keep in mind: The IRS distributed advances of your Child Tax Credit amount for 2021. They estimated how much total Child Tax Credit you were eligible for based on your previous return, split that amount in half, and sent it in monthly payments. So now that you’re filing your 2021 taxes, you’ll get the remaining amount. While the credit you get on your return now might seem smaller, remember that you already got some of the credit as advance payments.
