Yes, you can track when your child tax credit check hits your bank account or mailbox tomorrow

Good news: Parents can expect the next advance child tax credit check to start appearing in bank accounts and mailboxes tomorrow. The total amount of this year’s enhanced child tax credit is more than years prior: Some parents will get up to $3,600 instead of $2,000. Monthly payments can be up to $300 every month for each eligible child, depending on the child’s age and the household’s adjusted gross income from your latest tax return on file. The monthly advance checks are a big help to cover rising day care costs and back-to-school supplies. 

For now, parents can use the Update Portal to track the monthly checks and update any information that may have changed since your most recent tax return. The tool also makes it easy to opt out of the advance monthly checks without calling the IRS. If you think you no longer qualify, opting out may be a good idea to avoid trouble with the IRS. On the other hand, if you had a baby you may qualify, even though your 2020 tax return include your newborn. 

There’s a lot that eligible parents need to know ahead of tomorrow’s payment. And if you’re still waiting for July’s child tax credit payment, we’ll share a few possible reasons for the holdup. If you plan to use Friday’s check to cover school supplies, here are a few back-to-school essentials to help keep your kids safe amid the pandemic. And we’ll show you which tool to use to track Friday’s check online. We’ve recently updated this story. 

How can I track my child tax credit check coming and how online?

You can generally expect recurring monthly payments to hit your bank account on the 15th of every month except Friday’s payment, when it’s scheduled on the 13th. (See the chart below for more.) According to the IRS, you can use the Child Tax Credit Update Portal to see your processed monthly payment history. It’ll be a good way to watch for pending payments that haven’t gone through your bank account yet. 

If you still haven’t received the money you’re owed, see if the Processed Payments section of the Update Portal has any information. If the payment was delivered, make sure your address and banking information are correct — especially if you’ve moved or changed banks.

To check on your payments online, you’ll need to register with your IRS username and ID.me account information. First-time users will need to have a photo ID (it’s one of the ways the IRS is trying to protect your information from identity theft). We don’t know yet if the portal will display other payment details, such as banking information, amount, the check’s processing date or what could be causing a delay in the payment. 

If you’re checking your bank account, look for the deposit labeled “CHILDCTC.” If your bank has not received the deposit from the IRS, it won’t have any processing information for you if you’re trying to locate your check. If you think there’s an error, start by using the Update Portal to double-check the bank details the IRS has on file, including your account information and routing numbers. 

Child tax credit payment schedule

Monthly	Maximum payment per child 5 and younger	Maximum payment per child age 6 to 17
July 15	$300	$250
Aug. 13	$300	$250
Sept. 15	$300	$250
Oct. 15	$300	$250
Nov. 15	$300	$250
Dec. 15	$300	$250
April 2022: Second half of payment	$1,800	$1,500

How can I update my banking information for my child tax credit check to be direct deposited? 

The deadline to update your banking information for the Aug. 13 check has passed. Eligible parents that have banking information on file from stimulus checks or tax refunds with the IRS should have received money via direct deposit for the July payment. If the IRS doesn’t have your account information, you can submit it using the Child Tax Credit Update Portal for the September payment, which you have to do by Monday, Aug. 30. The IRS recommends using direct deposit to get future payments quicker. 

If you didn’t add your banking information in time for July’s payment, look out for a mailed check to the address that the IRS has on file for you — just like a mailed tax refund. If you need to update your mailing address for your check, you won’t be able to do that through the Update Portal quite yet. The IRS plans to continue expanding the functionality of that portal so you’ll be able to update your address, income and number of kids. 

A commenter in a recent Reddit thread says they were told the IRS is having a few issues with the child tax credit checks but is working to resolve them. If you’re waiting on your payment and the portal says it’s “Pending,” keep holding on. A check should be coming your way soon via direct deposit or mail. After a week, you can try to contact the IRS, or eventually do a payment trace.

What’s the phone number to call the IRS about child tax credit questions?

You may have questions about your child tax credit eligibility, missing check or changes to your information. The first thought is to contact the IRS, but there’s limited live assistance due to a tax return backlog, delayed stimulus checks and unemployment tax refunds. On top of all of the delays, the IRS doesn’t have a separate phone number for child tax credit questions. Instead of calling, it may be faster to check the IRS website for answers to your questions. And remember that the Update Portal can help with eligibility, payment history and updating your personal information online. 

What if I’m still waiting for July’s child tax credit payment? 

The first child tax credit check was sent on July 15, but some parents are still waiting. Even though child tax credit payments are scheduled to arrive on certain dates, you may not get the money when expected for a few reasons. The IRS may not have an up-to-date mailing address or banking information to send your check. The mailed check may be held up by the US Postal Service or the direct deposit payment may still be being processed. 

It’s also important to note that if you’re a victim of tax-related identity theft, you won’t receive child tax credit payments until those issues have been resolved with the IRS. If the issues aren’t cleared up this year while early payments are disbursed, you’ll get the full amount when you file taxes in 2022. And keep in mind that even if you have unpaid state or federal debt, you should still receive child tax credit payments if you’re eligible. 

Another possible reason your check may be delayed is that your 2020 return is still processing. The IRS is currently working through a backlog of returns. If your information has changed or you had a baby recently, the IRS may not know that they owe you the credit, especially if the tax agency is basing the credit on your 2019 tax return while the latest one is processing. 

How can I trace my missing child tax credit check?

The IRS also offers a payment trace as a way to find your funds, including from missing stimulus checks. You can request a trace — which means filing an inquiry into the location of your IRS money — by mailing or faxing Form 3911 (PDF) to the tax agency. Even if the IRS says you’re ineligible for advance payments, it’s best to submit a payment trace in case there’s a portal error. 

Your payment will be traceable if it has been at least five days since the deposit date and the bank hasn’t received the money, four weeks since the check was mailed or six weeks if it was mailed to a forwarded address listed by USPS. If the check was mailed to a foreign address, you can ask for a payment trace after nine weeks.

When to request a payment trace

Method of payment	Time passed since IRS sent your payment
Direct deposit	5 days
Check mailed to standard address	4 weeks
Check mailed to a forwarded address	6 weeks
Check mailed to a foreign address	9 weeks

At a first glance, the steps to request a payment trace can look daunting. You’ll need to print and mail the completed Form 3911 from the IRS (PDF) to start tracing your child tax credit payment. If you need help completing the form, reach out to your local tax consultant. Before you do, there are a few pointers to keep in mind. 

• An IRS representative told CNET that there’s not an abbreviation or code to include in the “Inquiry” field. You’ll need to be as specific as possible about what payment you’d like to track. Make sure you specify that you’re looking to trace a child tax credit check and the month the payment was disbursed. 
• If you filed taxes jointly, both parents will need to sign the form to start the payment trace process. 
• Be sure to check whether or not your money was sent via direct deposit or check. If your banking information is listed on the Child Tax Credit Update Portal, we recommend choosing the direct deposit box. 
• You’ll need to mail the form where you would usually send a paper tax return in your area. The IRS has a list of addresses and fax numbers to help. 
• You should not request a payment trace to determine your eligibility or to confirm your child tax credit amount. 
• It could take up to 60 days to receive a response.

Should I opt out of monthly checks to avoid repaying the IRS?

The child tax credit requirements are different from previous years. If you received more money than you’re eligible for, you may have to pay the IRS back. That’s why it’ll be important to use the Child Tax Credit Update Portal to inform the IRS of any changes to your household circumstances so adjustments can be made. 

You may choose to opt out of advance monthly child tax credit payments to get one lump sum during tax time next year. It also may be the safest option to avoid repaying the IRS if you’re ineligible for the monthly payments, especially if your income changes this year. You can use the Child Tax Credit Update Portal to opt out of the program anytime. You’ll only need to unenroll once, and you’ll be able to re-enroll in late September if you need to. 

If you or your spouse unenrolled from the child tax credit program but still got the money, it’s possible you didn’t opt out in time. You need to do so at least three days before the first Thursday of the month because it takes up to seven calendar days to process the request. The deadline to opt out of the August payment has passed. The next deadline is Aug. 30. Note that if you file jointly, each parent needs to unenroll. Otherwise, the spouse who doesn’t opt out will receive half of the joint payment. 

Here are the deadlines for unenrolling:

Child tax credit opt-out deadline

Payment date	Unenrollment deadline
July 15	June 28
Aug. 13	Aug. 2
Sept. 15	Aug. 30
Oct. 15	Oct. 4
Nov. 15	Nov. 1
Dec. 15	Nov. 29

The IRS will send a notice (Letter 6419) closer to tax time next year with the adjusted credit amount based on the advance payments already disbursed to you. Hold on to this letter because you’ll need it when you file your 2021 income tax return if you need to return part of your payment. If you received the first child tax credit but are ineligible, it’s best to opt out for September’s payment by Aug. 30. 

What if I got less child tax credit money last month than I expected?

Your first child tax credit check may have been less or more than you expected last month. There may be a concern about the IRS owing you the difference or repaying during tax time if you got more than expected. Here’s what we know. If you meet all of the child tax credit requirements but track your monthly payments online and find that you’re receiving less or more money than expected, there are a few steps you can take. Start by checking your eligibility based on your most recent tax return using the IRS Eligibility Assistant. 

Note that the IRS said that it may use your 2019 tax return to determine your eligibility. Once the IRS processes your 2020 tax return, it will automatically adjust your advance monthly payments by increasing or decreasing how much you get. 

If you didn’t file your taxes, use the Child Tax Credit Non-filer Sign-up Tool to add your information and determine eligibility. It’s unclear if the IRS will make up any differences in remaining payments or if the difference will be included in next year’s tax refund. 

One reason parents may get less money is if they fall out of the income bracket for the maximum amount for monthly payments. Married couples filing jointly earning up to $150,000 and single filers earning up to $75,000 can qualify for the full amount. If you make more, the monthly check is reduced by $50 for every $1,000 over the income bracket. So, if you earn $80,000 as a single filer, you may only be eligible for up to $200 per month — depending on other eligibility factors. 

We’ll continue to update this story with new information about tool updates, the child tax credit program and tracking your payments. Take a look at how joint child custody affects the child tax credit as well.