Representative Angie Craig Presses IRS to Ensure Child Tax Credit Payments Reach All Eligible Families in Minnesota

WASHINGTON, DC – Last week, U.S. Representative Angie Craig pressed the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for additional information on the Biden Administration's efforts to ensure that Additional Child Tax Credit payments are reaching all Minnesotans, particularly the most vulnerable and chronically underserved. In a letter to IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig, Craig expressed concern that some of her constituents, particularly those who do not file tax returns and those with newborns not listed on previous years taxes, would not be able to access the payments they are entitled to as part of landmark legislation Craig helped pass last year.

In her letter, Craig indicated that there are as many as 3,052 children in Minnesota's Second Congressional District who may be eligible to be claimed for the Child Tax Credit but were not claimed on a recent tax return – which could complicate parents' efforts to collect payments.

"This program exists to help families, especially the most vulnerable and chronically underserved," wrote Representative Craig. "I am deeply concerned about the IRS's lack of support for non-filers, parents with newborns not listed on previous years taxes, and parents without access to time and technology to wade through the IRS online portals or long hold times on phone lines."

Just last week, millions of American families began receiving monthly support from the expanded Child Tax Credit, which is designed to provide children and their families with additional payments throughout the year that help with the costs of food, childcare, diapers, healthcare, clothing, and other essential items. More than 75% of children in Minnesota's Second Congressional District will benefit from the expanded and improved tax credit – supporting 44,000 households with an average benefit of $2,600.

You can find the full text of the letter

and copied below.

July 15, 2021

The Honorable Charles P. Rettig

Commissioner

Internal Revenue Service

1111 Constitution Avenue, NW

Washington, D.C. 20224

Dear Commissioner Rettig:

I am writing to express serious concern and respectfully request answers to the implementation of the Additional Child Tax Credit.

This tax credit is estimated to help roughly 39 million households, covering almost 90 percent of children in the United States. According to the IRS's own data, there are 3,052 children in Minnesota's Second Congressional "who may be eligible to be claimed for the expanded and newly-advanceable Child Tax Credit but who had not been claimed on a recent tax return." However, there are no Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites nor IRS offices currently open and located in MN-02.

This program exists to help families, especially the most vulnerable and chronically underserved. I am deeply concerned about the IRS's lack of support for non-filers, parents with newborns not listed on previous years taxes, and parents without access to time and technology to wade through the IRS online portals or long hold times on phone lines. When my staff requested the IRS help a family whose baby born in March 2021 for whom the online portal did not work, they were redirected by your agency to an FAQ page with no recourse possible on the individual taxpayer's account.

I respectfully request the IRS answer the following questions related to the implementation of the Additional Child Tax Credit as soon as possible:

1. How does the IRS plan to reach all of the eligible families in MN-02 to ensure they receive this additional financial support?
2. How will the IRS work with my staff to fix issues of constituents that reach out to my office?
3. What is the IRS's outreach plan to help establish long-term VITA sites within MN-02 to help prevent this lack of service in future?

Sincerely,

Angie Craig
Member of Congress