IRS Letter 6475 and 6419: What You Need To Know Before Filing Your 2021 Tax Return
Nobody likes getting mail from the IRS, but here's one letter that you do not want to accidentally toss out: In the coming weeks, the revenue services will begin sending out correspondence about the third stimulus checks and advance child tax credit, which was distributed in 2021.
Do not throw away any IRS letter you may receive. You will need it to prepare your 2021 federal tax return.
Here's everything you need to know about these IRS information letters.
Background
The third tranche of the stimulus payments, officially known as Economic Impact Payments (EIP), was disbursed between March and December 2021. Over 160 million checks were sent out, with each person receiving $1,400, plus an additional $1,400 for dependents.
Additionally, parents received an advance on their child tax credit. The American Rescue Plan extended a financial lifeline to millions of families with a one-time expansion of the child tax credit. The first tranche was distributed from July to December 2021, followed by a lump-sum payment in April 2022 when you file your taxes.
Why did I receive IRS Letter 6475?
Letter 6475, "Your Third Economic Impact Payment", details how much stimulus money you received in 2021, including plus-up payments. It will be sent out in late January to everyone who received the third round of stimulus checks.
The letter will inform you if you are eligible to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2021 tax return when you file in 2022. If you received less than the full amount on your third stimulus check (or never received the third payment at all), the credit will reduce any tax you owe for 2021 or be included in your refund.
Why did I receive IRS Letter 6419?
Letter 6419, "2021 Advance Child Tax Credit", includes information such as the total amount of advance tax credit payments your family received in 2021, and how many qualifying children the advance payments were based on.
If you received advance payments of the child tax credit, you will need to file a 2021 tax return and compare the payments with the amount you were eligible for.
Do I need Letter 6475 or 6419 to file my 2021 tax return?
It's important that you save all tax-related documents, especially if they were sent by the IRS. Outdated or incorrect information on your return could result in a manual review.
While you may have received other documents such as Letter 1444-C, IRS recommends taxpayers refer to Letter 6475 and Letter 6419 when preparing their 2021 federal tax returns.
What if I didn't receive my Letter 6475 or 6419?
If you are ready to file your 2021 tax return, but haven't received your letter, you can always check your online IRS account.
If you don't have an IRS account, create an ID.me account on the IRS website.
You may also visit the CTC Update Portal to check the amount of your advance child tax credit payments.
How to file a 2021 tax return?
If you didn't receive your full third stimulus check or advance child tax credit payments, it's not too late. Your best option is to talk to a tax expert who can clarify your situation and ensure that you get the benefits you are entitled to.
The tax experts at TFX can help you save thousands of dollars on your taxes. For over 25 years, TFX has helped countless American taxpayers file accurate tax returns. You can trust our team to give you the tax advice you need.