Letter 6419: Your 2021 Advance Child Tax Credit Summary

Why you might get this

• You received advance Child Tax Credit (money the IRS sent you ahead of time for the credit) payments during 2021.
• The IRS is helping you match those payments to the credit you can claim when you file your 2021 tax return.
• The IRS sent this letter to families who got advance payments between late December 2021 and January 2022.

The deadline

This letter is not a bill and does not set a payment deadline. It is an informational summary you use when you prepare and file your 2021 tax return by your normal filing due date. Keep it with your tax records.

This notice doesn't carry a fixed response deadline, but it still deserves attention — see what to do below.

What to do

1. Keep this letter with your tax records, along with any other IRS letters about advance Child Tax Credit payments.
2. File a 2021 federal tax return.
3. Compare the advance payments listed in the letter with the Child Tax Credit amount you can claim for 2021.
4. Double-check the amounts using your Online Account or the Child Tax Credit update portal on IRS.gov.
5. If you didn't get advance payments but were eligible, claim the full Child Tax Credit on your 2021 return.

What happens if you ignore it

If you skip this letter, you may enter the wrong advance payment amount on your tax return. That can slow down your refund or cause the IRS to adjust your return.

If the amount in the letter doesn't match your own records or what shows in your Online Account, verify the correct figure before filing and consider contacting the IRS or a tax professional.

Letter 6419 is a helpful summary, not a bill. The IRS sent it to families who received advance Child Tax Credit payments in 2021 — money the government sent early instead of waiting until you filed your taxes.

The letter shows two key things: the total advance payments you got during 2021, and the number of qualifying children the IRS used to figure those payments. You need both numbers when you prepare your 2021 federal tax return.

Here's what to do. Keep the letter with your tax records. When you file, compare the advance payments listed against the full Child Tax Credit you can claim for 2021. If you got less in advance than you qualify for, you may be able to claim the difference. If you didn't get advance payments at all but were eligible, you can claim the full credit on your return.

You can also confirm the amounts through your Online Account on IRS.gov before you file. Using the right number helps avoid refund delays or IRS adjustments.

Not sure the amount matches your records? Solace can keep an eye on your IRS account so nothing catches you off guard.