Child Tax Credit
The Child Tax Credit (CTC) provides a tax credit to working families to help offset the cost of raising children. Learn more about what it is, why it matters, and how to get it.
The Child Tax Credit (CTC) is a common-sense support for families with kids that gives parents flexibility to afford essentials like shelter, clothing, diapers, or education — the kinds of basics proven to improve kids’ health, educational outcomes, and earnings later in life.
The improved and expanded monthly CTC — which made the full credit available to all children except those with the highest incomes, increased the maximum credit amount, and included 17-year-olds — dramatically lowered the number of U.S. children living in poverty. And the ripple effect made our economy stronger by increasing spending in local economies and supporting jobs as families use the money to purchase food, pay bills, and cover school and child care expenses.
National studies confirm CTC payments succeeded in reducing adversity for kids and improving economic stability across the country.
Resources
By filing taxes, people and families with low income
can make sure they aren’t leaving money on the table.
- Policy Basics: The Child Tax Credit
- Pine Tree Legal Assistance: Are You Leaving Money on the Table?
A Guide to Maine Tax Credits and Benefits - CA$H Maine: Free Tax Prep
Reading
Learn more about the CTC and why it matters.
- Bangor Daily News (November 2022): Expanded child tax credit should be a priority for Congress
- Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (November 2022): Year-End Tax Policy Priority: Expand the Child Tax Credit for the 19 Million Children Who Receive Less Than the Full Credit
- MECEP News (November 2022): Congress must expand the Child Tax Credit, or risk 49,000 Maine children being pushed into poverty or greater hardship
- MECEP News (September 2022): Census data: Health insurance coverage in Maine at record levels
- MECEP Blog (June 2022): Federal Reserve data shows improved financial wellbeing, particularly among parents, in 2021
- MECEP Report (May 2022): How the Child Tax Credit was spent in Maine
- MECEP News (March 2022): On anniversary of ARPA, 8,000 children will likely be pushed back into poverty without expanded Child Tax Credit
- MECEP Blog (August 2021): Improved Child Tax Credit benefits all Mainers
- MECEP Blog (July 2021): Improved Child Tax Credit long overdue for Maine families
- MECEP News (June 2021): Families of 229,000 Maine children eligible to receive first monthly payment as part of enhanced Child Tax Credit
- MECEP Blog (September 2019): Federal Working Families Tax Relief Act would boost incomes for 187,000 Maine households
- MECEP Research (November 2017): New Analysis: Senate Child Tax Credit Proposal Stacks the Deck Against Rural Working Families