The Child Tax Credit starts on a schedule set by the IRS, not when you file your taxes

The Child Tax Credit is a federal tax benefit worth up to $2,000 per child under 17. The IRS does not send money automatically — you claim it when you file your tax return, or the IRS may send advance payments on a schedule they announce each year. The timing of those advance payments changes year to year, so the start date is not fixed.

If advance payments are available in a given tax year, they typically begin in mid-summer and continue monthly through December. You then claim any remaining credit amount when you file your return the following spring. The exact start date depends on whether Congress has authorized advance payments for that year and when the IRS announces the schedule.

You do not need to do anything to "start" receiving the credit. If you have a child under 17 and your income is below the limit, you are already may have access to to it. The question is only whether the IRS will send it to you in advance payments or whether you will receive it all at once when you file your return.

Key Takeaways

  • Advance Child Tax Credit payments, when available, typically begin in July and run through December of the tax year.
  • The IRS announces the payment schedule each year; the start date is not the same every year.
  • You claim the full credit on your tax return the following spring, whether or not you received advance payments.
  • Your income must be below a certain threshold ($400,000 for married filing jointly, lower for other statuses) to receive the full credit.
  • You do not need to apply or register separately; the IRS uses your prior-year tax return to determine who receives advance payments.

How the IRS Decides When Payments Start

Congress must authorize advance payments each tax year. In years when advance payments are authorized, the IRS publishes a payment schedule in the spring. That schedule includes the start date, the monthly payment amounts, and the payment dates.

The start date has varied. In 2021 and 2022, advance payments began in July. In other years, they may start earlier or later, or may not be available at all. The only way to know the start date for your tax year is to check the IRS website or call the IRS directly once the schedule is announced — usually by April or May.

If you do not receive advance payments, you still get the full credit when you file your return. The credit does not expire or disappear; it simply comes as a lump sum on your tax refund or reduces the taxes you owe.

What Happens If You Miss the Advance Payments

If advance payments are available but you do not receive them, you can still claim the credit on your tax return. This can happen if the IRS does not have your current address, if your income changed during the year, or if you did not file a tax return in the prior year.

When you file your return, you will report the number of children under 17 and your current-year income. The IRS will calculate the credit you are owed and either add it to your refund or reduce the taxes you owe. If you received advance payments, the IRS will subtract those from the total credit to avoid overpaying you.

If your income rose during the year and you received advance payments you were not may have access to to, you may owe some of that money back when you file. The IRS will calculate this when processing your return.

Income Limits and Who Receives the Full Credit

The credit begins to shrink if your income exceeds certain thresholds. For 2023 and 2024, the full $2,000 credit per child is available if your income is below $400,000 (married filing jointly), $200,000 (single or head of household), or $300,000 (married filing separately). These thresholds change slightly each year for inflation.

If your income is above the threshold, the credit reduces by $50 for every $1,000 (or fraction thereof) over the limit. This means higher-income families may receive a smaller credit or no credit at all.

The IRS uses your prior-year tax return to determine your income for advance payment purposes. If your income dropped significantly during the current year, you can update your information with the IRS to receive a larger advance payment. The IRS provides a tool on their website to make these changes.

How to Track Advance Payments Once They Start

Once advance payments begin, the IRS sends them by direct deposit, check, or debit card — whichever method you used for your tax refund in the prior year. You can track the payment status on the IRS website using the Child Tax Credit Update Portal, which shows the payment dates and amounts you should receive.

If you do not receive a payment on the expected date, check the portal first to confirm the IRS has your correct address and banking information. If the information is wrong, you can update it through the portal. If the information is correct and the payment is still missing after several days, contact the IRS.

Keep records of all advance payments you receive. When you file your tax return, you will need to report the total amount of advance payments received so the IRS can calculate whether you owe any back or are owed additional credit.

What Changes If Your Situation Changes During the Year

If you have a new child, your income changes, or your custody situation changes, you can update your information with the IRS before the year ends. The IRS will adjust your advance payments for the remaining months if the change affects your credit amount.

You can update your information through the Child Tax Credit Update Portal on the IRS website. Changes made through the portal usually take effect within a few weeks, so the adjustment will show up in your next payment.

If you do not update your information and your situation changed, the IRS will correct the overpayment or underpayment when you file your return. This means you may owe money back or receive additional credit, depending on what happened.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I did not file a tax return last year?

The IRS uses your prior-year return to send advance payments. If you did not file, you will not receive advance payments automatically. You can still claim the full credit when you file your current-year return. If you want advance payments, you can file a prior-year return or contact the IRS to provide income information.

Can I refuse advance payments and get the whole credit on my tax return instead?

Yes. You can opt out of advance payments through the Child Tax Credit Update Portal. If you opt out, you will receive the entire credit when you file your return the following spring. Some people do this if their income is unstable or if they prefer a single lump sum.

What if my child turns 17 during the year?

The credit applies only to children under 17 on December 31 of the tax year. If your child turns 17 before that date, you cannot claim the credit for that child. If your child turns 17 after December 31, you can claim the credit for the full year. Update the IRS if this affects your advance payments.

Do I have to pay back advance payments if I owe taxes?

Advance payments are separate from your tax liability. If you owe taxes and receive a refund, the IRS will first apply your refund to any taxes owed, then send you the remainder. Advance Child Tax Credit payments do not change this process — they are credits, not refunds.

How do I know if advance payments are available this year?

Check the IRS website in April or May of the tax year. The IRS publishes the payment schedule and may be able to access rules once Congress authorizes advance payments. You can also call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 to ask whether advance payments are available and when they start.