Press Releases

Chester, PA – Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) is urging Pennsylvanians to file their taxes as soon as possible and receive the historic tax cuts created by the American Rescue Plan. The deadline to file 2021 tax returns is one month away — April 18, 2022. 

In 2021, Rep. Scanlon delivered approximately $191 million in tax cuts for more than 76,000 hardworking families in PA-05 through the expanded Child Tax Credit, according to estimates from the Joint Economic Committee. Many of these families will see even more relief when they file their taxes this year.

“When Democrats passed the historic American Rescue Plan last March, the health and well-being of our working families was top of mind,” said Rep. Scanlon. “Direct relief helped get Pennsylvanians back on their feet, while funding to state and local governments allowed us to reopen schools and businesses safely. Hardworking Pennsylvanians can make sure they receive the rest of the resources they’re eligible for by filing their taxes by April 18.”

The American Rescue Plan, signed by President Biden in March 2021, represents one of the largest middle-class tax cuts in American history. The law expanded the amount of the Child Tax Credit and provided families with advance monthly payments totaling up to one-half of the credit, cutting child poverty by 40%. The law also expanded the Earned Income Tax Credit, increasing the amount working people with no qualifying children between 19 and 65 are eligible for from $543 to up to $1,502. To claim these funds, Pennsylvanians must file a 2021 tax return, so the IRS has the information needed to calculate and issue their full payments. 

Eligible families can ensure they receive the expanded Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit by filing their tax returns. Taxpayers can start the process by reviewing their tax filing options at ChildTaxCredit.gov or GetYourRefund.org.

Here are some key facts about the Child Tax Credit:

• It is not taxable, including the advance monthly payments received last year.

• Families can get their Child Tax Credit by filing a tax return this year, including those who received part of their Child Tax Credit as advance monthly payments last year. 

• Receiving it will have no impact on anyone’s eligibility for, or lower the amount of, other federal benefits.

• Families who qualified for advance monthly Child Tax Credit payments but did not receive them will receive the full credit amount when they file 2021 tax returns.

• Anyone, including grandparents, who are legal guardians may be eligible for the Child Tax Credit.

More information about the Child Tax Credit and tax filing can be found here.

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