1、CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress INSIGHTINSIGHTi i Child Tax Benefits and Children with Complex or Dynamic Living Arrangements March 12, 2021 The federal income tax system provides substantial amounts of cash assistance for many families with children, often in the form of
2、 refundable tax credits. The two largest benefits for families with children (and workers) are the earned income tax credit (EITC) and the child tax credit. To claim these benefits, tax filers and children have to meet numerous requirements. Policymakers have recently expressed interest in providing
3、 additional cash assistance to families with children, often in the form of tax benefits. In the 117th Congress, Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (P.L. 117-2), providing a larger child tax credit that is issued on a periodic basis throughout the year (i.e., advanced) instead of a
4、s a lump sum when income tax returns are filed. Tax rules for claiming children for benefits do not align with the lived experience of some families in the United States, which may lead to confusion for these families and administrative issues for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Family living, c
