Every filing season, millions of taxpayers ask the same question:“If the Child Tax Credit is $2,200, why am I only getting $1,700 back?” This confusion happens every single year, and in 2026 it will be…
For millions of parents, the $2,200 Child Tax Credit (CTC) is one of the biggest refund boosters in 2026. But here’s the surprise most taxpayers don’t realize: if you file early in January and claim…
What Parents Need to Know for the 2025 Return / 2026 Refund Season With recent changes to tax policy, the Child Tax Credit (CTC) for qualifying children has been increased to $2,200 per dependent. This…
How the Premium Tax Credit Boosts Your Refund and What TC 768 Really Means If you bought health insurance through the Marketplace (HealthCare.gov or your state exchange), you may see IRS Tax Code 768 on…
How College Students and Parents Can Unlock Up to $1,000 in Refundable Money for Tax Season For millions of college students and parents, the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) is one of the most valuable…
Why the AOTC Remains One of the Most Valuable Refund Boosters for College Students and Parents For families paying college tuition, textbook costs, and course-related expenses, the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) is one of…
Why Families With Three or More Children Will See One of the Biggest Refund Boosts in 2026 The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) remains one of the largest refundable tax credits in the United States…
Why Understanding Refundable and Non-Refundable Credits Is the Key to Knowing How Much You’ll Actually Get Back Many taxpayers enter filing season focused on one question:How big will my refund be? The answer depends heavily…
A Complete Guide to the New $2,200 Credit, the $1,700 Refundable Portion, and How to Maximize Your Benefit The Child Tax Credit (CTC) continues to be one of the most important tax benefits for American…
Tax season is here again, and if you’re a parent, you’re probably wondering what’s happening with the Child Tax Credit (CTC) in 2026. Whether you’re filing early in January or waiting until the April deadline,…
Claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) and wondering why your refund is taking forever? Don’t stress! The IRS’s PATH Act puts a hold on these refunds until mid-February…
The Child Tax Credit continues to be one of the most valuable tax benefits for families, especially during years when monthly advance payments are available. But many parents are still unsure how eligibility works, when…
The IRS is now making monthly child tax credit payments to eligible families. Depending on the age of your child, those payments can be as much as $300-per-kid each month from July to December. That’s an…
The Advance Child Tax Credit payments were based on the IRS records from the most recent tax return on file. This means the parent who claimed the child last year may have received the monthly…
When Custody Changes, So Do The Payments Advance Child Tax Credit payments were based on the most recent tax return the IRS had on file. But custody situations change, and many families discover that whoever…
IRS clarified how individuals who are not otherwise required to file 2020 federal income tax returns can claim advance child tax credit (CTC) payments as well as stimulus payments (i.e., third-round economic impact payments, 2020…
The IRS will have two online child tax credit portals open by July 1. That’s where you’ll change your status and more. The child tax credit payments are coming — the good news is 88% of American…
Whether you have just one on the way or five and counting, kids are expensive. That’s why you should take advantage of tax cuts whenever possible. In addition to claiming them as dependents, you may…
What is the Recovery Rebate Credit? You can claim your missing stimulus payment with the Recovery Rebate Credit. The IRS introduced the Recovery Rebate Credit for eligible taxpayers who did not receive the first or…
Health insurance can be pricey. Luckily, you can get a refundable tax credit just for purchasing health insurance through the Marketplace. Keep reading to find out how you qualify. What is the Premium Tax Credit…
Taxpayers who claim the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Additional Child Tax Credit may experience a refund hold. According to the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act, the IRS cannot issue these refunds…
While many people are required to file a tax return, it’s a good idea for everyone to determine if they should file. Some people with low income are not required to file but will need…
If you are a divorced or separated parent with children, a commonly encountered but often misunderstood issue is who claims the child or children for tax purposes. This is sometimes a hotly disputed issue between…
With the tax filing season quickly approaching, the Internal Revenue Service recommends taxpayers take time now to determine if they are eligible for important tax credits. Earned Income Tax Credit The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is…
The earned income credit (EIC) is one of the most beneficial credits for individuals with children or those that are low income. Created in 1975 as an incentive for people to work, this credit potentially…
The term “exemption” is often one that inspires bewilderment and perplexity among the most intelligent individuals. When filing your personal tax return or even filling out a W-4 for your employer, you may not be…
There are several ways in which education expenses can be used to decrease your tax burden. In addition to the Hope Credit, the Lifetime Learning Credit, and the student loan interest deduction, there is also…
When filing your personal income tax return, there are primarily two ways to reduce your tax liability: deductions and credits. Although any way to pay Uncle Sam less is greatly appreciated, there are advantages to…
In all the complexity of tax preparation, it is easy to miss a deduction or credit. This is a particular advantage to utilizing a professional tax service because they ask all the questions you may…
Tax credits and tax deductions are two different types of tax breaks. Both can lower your tax bill, but they work in different ways. What is a tax deduction? A tax deduction is an expense that you can subtract from your yearly…
The Hope credit (renamed the American Opportunity credit) and the Lifetime Learning credit are tax credits for taxpayers who pay certain higher education costs. These credits depend on the amount of qualified tuition and related…
Military members benefit from a variety of special tax benefits. These include certain nontaxable allowances, non-taxable combat pay, and a variety of other special tax provisions. Here is a rundown on the most prominent of…
Important Updates Every Taxpayer With Children Should Understand The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC) are two of the most significant tax benefits available to working families. Because these credits…
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a refundable tax credit given to taxpayers that earn a low-to-moderate income from a job or through self-employment. According to the IRS, around 25 million eligible filers received…
Are you wondering who can qualify as a dependent on your tax return? This is your guide to assessing whether one of your family members may be able to be classified as a qualifying dependent…
More families will be able to get more money under the newly revised Child Tax Credit, according to the Internal Revenue Service. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), the tax reform legislation passed in…
Understanding the PATH Act Delay and What It Means for Your Refund Every tax season, millions of families depend on refunds tied to the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Additional Child Tax Credit…
Did you know about 27 percent of Earned Income Tax Credit returns are paid in error? According to the IRS, the five most common errors account for more than 60 percent of erroneous claims. Remember,…
Why This Matters Right Now Every year, thousands of taxpayers attempt to artificially increase their refund by inflating credits such as: These credits can legitimately produce thousands of dollars in refundable payments. But fraudulently increasing…