As part of President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, there is more money available to families and/or people with low to moderate incomes.
Whether or not you received stimulus checks or monthly payments in 2021, additional money may be available to you – and receiving these tax credits are not considered income and will not impact eligibility for other federal benefits such as SNAP, Medicaid, Section 8, and SSI.
Filing your taxes by April 18, 2022 (even if you don’t earn enough to file taxes) is how you can claim benefits like the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit.
The federal government has created a website ChildTaxCredit.Gov with information about the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit. You can determine if you are eligible here.
Visit Champlain Valley on Economic Development’s (CVOEO) Tax Preparation page for information on FREE tax preparation assistance for low-to-moderate-income Vermonters in Chittenden, Franklin, and Grand Isle Counties. Or call CVOEO at 802-862-2771 .
Avoid Scams
Avoid scammers who pose as government representatives or agencies offering tax assistance or demanding IRS payments. The federal government will not call, text, or send an online message. Do not respond to requests asking for social security numbers, gift cards, cash, or credit card/banking information. These are scams.