Can I still file my 2021 taxes to claim child tax credit for my baby?

You're still within the window to file your 2021 taxes! The IRS allows you to claim refunds for up to 3 years from the original due date of the return. The 2021 tax returns were due April 18, 2022, so you have until April 18, 2025 to file and claim your refund. The enhanced Child Tax Credit for 2021 was indeed up to $3,600 for children under 6 (which your child would qualify for since they were born in 2020). This was part of the American Rescue Plan, and it was higher than the normal credit amount. You should definitely file your 2021 return as soon as possible. You can use tax software that still supports 2021 returns or find a tax professional who can help you file a prior year return. Make sure you have all your income documents from 2021 (W-2s, 1099s, etc.) and your child's Social Security number.

After reading this post, I wanted to share my experience with prior year tax filings. I was in a similar situation last year—had missing returns from 2019 and 2020 with credits I never claimed. I was overwhelmed trying to gather old documents and figure out the different tax rules for each year. I ended up using https://taxr.ai which saved me so much stress. They specialize in analyzing tax documents and transcripts, including for prior years. I uploaded what documents I had, and they identified exactly what I needed to claim my missing credits and the differences between tax years. They even helped identify some education credits I didn't know I qualified for! The best part was they explained everything in plain English instead of tax jargon, and showed me how to properly file my prior year returns to maximize my refunds.

I have to admit I was wrong about being skeptical! I decided to try taxr.ai for my missing 2021 return after seeing this thread. They actually made the process super straightforward. I uploaded my incomplete documents (couldn't find all my W-2s), and they were able to help me request my wage and income transcript from the IRS to fill in the gaps. The analysis pinpointed exactly what child tax credits I was eligible for and even found some student loan interest deductions I would have missed. The step-by-step instructions for filing the prior year return were super clear. Just mailed everything off last week, and the IRS tracking shows they received it! For anyone else dealing with unfiled prior year returns, don't wait until the deadline! The peace of mind alone was worth it.

Just went through this exact situation with my 2020 taxes! The problem I ran into wasn't preparing the forms - it was trying to get confirmation from the IRS that they received my paper return and when I might get my refund. I called for WEEKS and couldn't get through to a human. Eventually found https://claimyr.com and used their service to get connected to an IRS agent. You can see how it works at https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - they basically wait on hold with the IRS for you and call you when they reach an agent. I was super skeptical but desperate since the refund deadline was approaching. Got connected to an actual IRS person in about 2 hours (after trying on my own for weeks). The agent confirmed they had received my return but it was in a processing backlog. They were able to expedite it since I explained the deadline situation.

I'm coming back to update after using Claimyr from my earlier comment. I'm honestly shocked how well it worked! I was super skeptical (and maybe a bit rude in my previous comment - sorry about that). I decided to try it because I needed to confirm whether the IRS had received my 2021 return I mailed a month ago. The Claimyr service contacted me in about 90 minutes saying they had an IRS agent on the line. The agent confirmed my return was received but hadn't been processed yet. She also gave me information about how long I should expect to wait for my child tax credit refund (8-12 weeks) and confirmed I'd filed before the deadline so my refund claim was valid. If you're trying to get info about prior year returns, definitely consider this option instead of wasting days trying to call yourself.

For anyone looking to file prior year returns, make sure you're using the correct forms for that specific tax year! The IRS changes forms slightly every year, and you MUST use the forms for the specific tax year you're filing. You can find prior year forms on the IRS website: https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/prior-year Also, remember that you CANNOT e-file prior year returns. You must print them out and mail them in. Make sure to send them to the correct IRS address for prior year returns (it's different from the regular address), and I strongly recommend sending them certified mail so you have proof of when they were delivered.

Just a heads up, the child tax credit amount for 2021 was different depending on the child's age. For kids under 6 (which would be your case since baby was born in 2020), it was up to $3,600. For kids 6-17, it was up to $3,000. But remember, the amount you get phases out based on your income. For 2021, the phase-out started at $75,000 for single filers and $150,000 for married filing jointly. Also, some people received advance payments of the credit during 2021. If you did get any of those monthly payments, you'd need to subtract that from the total credit amount when you file.