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This in email from IRS today. The child tax credits for 2018 has drastically INCREASED over 2018 – working poor and middle class families get about twice as much credit as previously, including for special needs children older than 17. Details on how to get the money are at the IRS link via govdelivery.com. The content of their email is as follows:<\/p>\n
WASHINGTON \u2013 More families will be able to get more money under the newly-revised Child Tax Credit, according to the Internal Revenue Service.<\/p>\n
This is the third in a series of reminders to help taxpayers get ready for the upcoming tax filing season. Additionally, the IRS has recently updated a special page<\/a> on its website with steps to take now for the 2019 tax filing season.<\/p>\n The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), the tax reform legislation passed in December 2017, doubled the maximum Child Tax Credit<\/strong>, boosted income limits to be able to claim the credit, and revised the identification number requirement for 2018 and subsequent years. The new law also created a second smaller credit of up to $500 per dependent aimed at taxpayers supporting older children and other relatives who do not qualify for the Child Tax Credit.<\/p>\n \u201cAs we approach the 2019 tax-filing season, I want to remind taxpayers to take advantage of this valuable tax credit if they are eligible to claim it,\u201d said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. \u201cTax reform changed the tax code significantly and doubling the Child Tax Credit is an example of how the changes impact taxpayers.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Here are some important things taxpayers need to know as they plan for the tax-filing season in early 2019:<\/p>\n Higher income limits mean more families are now eligible for the Child Tax Credit. The credit begins to phase out at $200,000 of modified adjusted gross income, or $400,000 for married couples filing jointly, which is up from the 2017 levels of $75,000 for single filers or $110,000 for married couples filing jointly.<\/p>\n Increased from $1,000<\/span> to $2,000<\/span><\/span><\/strong> per<\/strong> qualifying child<\/strong>, the credit applies if the child is younger than 17 at the end of the tax year, the taxpayer claims the child as a dependent, and the child lives with the taxpayer for more than six months of the year. The qualifying child must also have a valid Social Security Number issued before the due date of the tax return, including extensions.<\/p>\n Up to $1,400<\/strong> of the credit can be refundable<\/strong> for each<\/strong> qualifying child<\/strong>. This means an eligible taxpayer may get a refund even if they don\u2019t owe any tax.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\nChild Tax Credit increased<\/strong><\/h3>\n