Child tax credit money will be a no show in January; look out for IRS letter instead

Many parents might be looking for money from the child tax credit payment this January but they're not going to see it arrive Jan. 15 or shortly afterwards. 

What's more likely to show up is a tax letter from the Internal Revenue Service related to the child tax credit. Don't throw it away. 

You might not be expecting to see a notice from the IRS but this letter is essential to help prepare your 1040 tax return for 2021 and possibly claim any more money that you're due. 

Unfortunately for 36 million families the advance child tax credit payments aren't going to cover any bills in January, as some might have expected.