Monday's the deadline to file your taxes and if you're a parent who has put it off, don't forget to to file for the Child Tax Credit program.

"The Child Tax Credit has been in law before but this is a one year expansion of it that's going to provide families with children additional payments throughout the year that will help them pay for the costs" of raising kids.

South Florida Congresswoman Lois Frankel says single parents earning up to $112,500 per year and married couples earning up to $150,000 can qualify for up to $3,600 annually per child.

Frankel says the expansion was part of the American Rescue Plan, which passed in Congress in March.

Even parents who don't usually file have to do so to get the tax credit.

Frankel says poverty can scar children for life.

"Poor children are more likely to go hungry, to get sicker, to have mental health problems, to not do well in school and actually a higher risk of unemployment as they get older."

While Monday is the deadline to file your taxes, you don't miss out on the Child Tax Credit if you're late, however Frankel says that if you want to get your payments as early as July, you need to file by Monday.

During Friday's Zoom press conference, a representative from United Way of Palm Beach County's VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) Program joined in to talk about their free tax preparation services for people who have household incomes of $66,000 or less.

Click Here for details.

And here is information to file your own taxes for free at IRS.gov.

Specifics on the Child Tax Credit:

As part of the American Rescue Plan, individual filers who earn up to $112,500 and married couples earning up to $150,000 can qualify for direct payments of up to $3,600 annually per child under the age of 6 and up to $3,000 annually for children under 18. Monthly payments will begin as soon as July for families who file by May 17th.

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