You may need to file a 2021 tax return to claim certain credits.

In 2021, even if you’re not otherwise required to prepare and file a U.S. individual income tax return, you may want to do so to claim certain refundable tax credits:

• Child Tax Credit: it gives money to families to help raise their children under 18. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) enhanced the Child Tax Credit for 2021 so that your family may be eligible even if you didn’t work in 2021 or owe any individual income taxes.If you’re eligible for the child tax credit but did not get monthly advance payments in 2021, you can still get a lump-sum payment by claiming the Child Tax Credit when you file your 2021 federal income tax return in 2022. If you’re not otherwise required to file an individual income tax return, you should file one to get the child tax credit you’re entitled to refunded.

• Economic Impact Payments and claiming the Recovery Rebate Credit: as of December 31, 2021 the federal government must have issued a third Economic Impact Payment to eligible individual taxpayers. Two Economic Impact Payments were previously issued. If you didn’t qualify for the third Economic Impact Payment or did not receive the full amount, you may be eligible for the Recovery Rebate Credit based on your 2021 tax information. To claim the credit, you must file a 2021 U.S. individual income tax return, even if you wouldn’t have otherwise filed a tax return.