The Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department announced last week that millions of American families are now receiving their advance Child Tax Credit (CTC) payment for the month of September.

The majority of payments will be issued by direct deposit. Under the American Rescue Plan, most eligible families received payments dated July 15 and Aug. 13, along with last week's Sept. 15 payment. Future payments are scheduled for Oct. 15, Nov. 15 and Dec. 15. For these families, each payment is up to $300 per month for each child under age 6 and up to $250 per month for each child ages 6 through 17.

  • For those receiving payments by paper check, be sure to allow extra time, through the end of September, for delivery by mail. Those wishing to receive future payments by direct deposit can make this change using the Child Tax Credit Update Portal available only on IRS.gov. To access the portal or to get a new step-by-step guide for using it, visit IRS.gov/childtaxcredit2021. A change made by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Oct. 4 will apply starting with the October payment.
  • Payments went to eligible families who filed a 2019 or 2020 income tax return. Returns processed by Aug. 30 are reflected in these payments.
  • The unenroll feature on the site can be helpful to any family that no longer qualifies for the CTC or believes they will not qualify when they file their 2021 return in 2022. This could happen if, for example, someone else, such as an ex-spouse or another family member, qualifies to claim their child or children as dependents in 2021.