Personal Finance

Free tax help available to individuals and families eligible for child tax credit, stimulus checks

Key Points
  • Individuals and families in need of help submitting their information in order to receive monthly child tax credit or stimulus check payments may now get in-person guidance.
  • The IRS is teaming up with local community organizations in 12 cities to provide live help over two weekends.
  • Even if you can't attend, the tax agency has tools available online through which you can submit your information.
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Individuals and families with questions on the new monthly child tax credit payments or missing stimulus checks now have the opportunity to get free, in-person tax help.

The IRS announced Wednesday that it is partnering with nonprofit organizations, churches and community organizations in 12 cities to provide people with assistance over two weekends: June 25-26 and July 9-10.

The services are particularly aimed at those who do not typically file tax returns but need to submit their information in order to receive the monthly advance child tax credit or stimulus check payments.

A non-filer sign-up tool has also been created by the IRS. The online tool also lets people who are eligible for the $1,400 stimulus checks — or previous direct payments of $600 or $1,200 that were issued by the government — submit for those, as well.

More from Personal Finance:
Monthly child tax credit payments start July 15. What to know
How families can opt out of advance monthly child tax credit payments
Government is still sending $1,400 stimulus checks

The monthly child tax credit payments are scheduled to start in July. Eligible families will receive up to $300 per month for each child under age 6, and up to $250 per month per child ages 6 through 17.

The IRS has also launched an online tool to help parents assess whether they are eligible for those advance child tax credit payments.

The upcoming events are also open to people who do not have children and want to sign up for missing stimulus checks.

The events will be held in Atlanta, Detroit, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Milwaukee, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C.

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More details on specific locations and hours can be found here.

Event attendees are encouraged to come prepared with certain information — Social Security or Tax Identification Numbers for you and your spouse, Social Security numbers for your children, your mailing and email addresses, and bank account information — so that the payments can be direct deposited.

If you cannot attend any of the events, there are a couple of ways to submit for the payments. The online non-filer sign-up tool will let you register for the child tax credit payments and missing stimulus checks.

In addition, the IRS' Free File program will let you submit your federal tax return for free online if your income is $72,000 or less.