Resources

Research and Data

State and Local Child Tax Credit Outreach Needed to Help Lift Hardest-to-Reach Children Out of Poverty: CBPP has issued a new analysis on the roughly 4 million or more children in families who are eligible for the Child Tax Credit but who must submit their information to the IRS to get their money. The paper identifies groups to prioritize for outreach, includes state by state numbers, and offers suggestions for steps that states as well as community service providers can take to help vulnerable families claim the substantial Child Tax Credit payment (up to $,3,600 per child). Many families may also be eligible for three previous Economic Impact Payments (totaling $3,200 for adults and $2,500 per child).

Tax Policy Center’s Map of Families At Risk of Missing Out: This tool maps where children in these families are most likely to live, which can help inform policymakers and community advocates working to connect eligible families to needed benefits.

Propel Survey Data: Each month, Propel, the makers of Providers (an app for managing EBT and other benefits), surveys their users. They have great data on non-filers and the CTC.

Code for America and GetYourRefund.org Non-filer Learnings and Recommendations

Talking to Non-Filers: Talking to Non-Filers (New America)

Missing Out on Crucial Child Tax Credit Relief: Who Is at Risk and Why (SaverLife)

State Fact Sheets: How Are Families Using the Child Tax Credit? (The Annie E. Casey Foundation)

Webinars

Tax Time Thursdays: The Center on Budget & Policy Priorities is hosting Tax Time Thursdays every other week throughout the tax season. This learning series will include brief presentations on aspects of EITC outreach and extended time for outreach organizations and groups to ask questions and share their experiences. Presentation topics include peer-to-peer outreach, reaching foster and homeless youth, reaching older adults, and reaching immigrants. Register here: bit.ly/tax-thurs.

Becoming an EITC and CTC Navigator: Navigators are trusted, community-based guides that help marginalized people get their payments. They can answer questions, help people fill out the non-filer form, provide space and technology, or help address other barriers.

This training, co-hosted by Code for America, will help you become an EITC and CTC navigator for your community. We cover what resources are available and what support you can provide.

All Hands on Deck: Local Strategies for Reaching All Families Eligible for the CTC: In this webinar, you will hear from local communities’ about their strategies for conducting outreach and providing hands-on assistance to ensure all eligible children receive the CTC. You’ll also learn about new materials that you can use to support your efforts.

How to best serve and connect immigrants to the Child Tax Credit: Join the NYIC and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities to learn about the Child Tax Credit, who qualifies, how to address common concerns from immigrant families, and where to refer individuals for support. We will also introduce the role of CTC navigators and how you can be trained to provide direct support to community members on accessing the credit.

Where should I refer people for help?

The best place to refer someone for help is a local organization that can answer questions, help file a traditional tax return, or fill out the IRS Non-filer Form. You can contact your local free tax preparation site to partner.

Here are some of the national services that can support your outreach:

• GetYourRefund.org: On January 31, 2022, this site will reopen and begin its free tax preparation services.
• 211: This hotline service from United Way connects people to local resources for support. It can answer basic questions about the CTC and direct callers to any free tax filing services.
• ChildTaxCredit.gov: This White House site helps folks understand the Child Tax Credit and whether they’re eligible and directs them to free tax filing.
  
• ChildTaxCredit.com This website features FAQs and a wonderful CTC eligibility calculator that can help people understand how much they can get from the credit.