Letter 6419, Advance Child Tax Credit Reconciliation, was mailed from late December 2021 through January 2022. It gives you the numbers you need to reconcile the 2021 Child Tax Credit (CTC) on your 2021 tax return.
The letter shows:
- The total amount of 2021 advance Child Tax Credit payments you received.
- The number of qualifying children used to calculate those advance payments. That number also matters for repayment protection when you file your 2021 return.
What to Do
You don't respond to this letter. You use it.
If you received advance payments, you must:
- File a 2021 tax return.
- Compare the advance payments you received in 2021 with the CTC amount you can claim for 2021.
You can also check your amounts in your IRS online account, which includes a payment summary for the advance Child Tax Credit and the third Economic Impact Payment.
If You Didn't Get Advance Payments
Eligible families who didn't receive advance payments could claim the full Child Tax Credit on their 2021 federal return. That includes families who don't normally need to file.
If the Numbers Don't Match
The advance payment figure on your 2021 return needs to match what the IRS shows you received. A mismatch can lead the IRS to change the credit on your return. If you think the letter is wrong, compare it with your online account and your bank records before you decide which figure is right.
Keep It
Keep Letter 6419 and any other IRS letters about advance CTC payments with your tax records.
If the IRS changed the Child Tax Credit on your 2021 return, call us at (813) 229-7100.