HomeMy WebLinkAbout7-28-2022 Enhanced Child Tax CreditCity of San Luis Obispo, Office of the City Council, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93401-3249, 805.781.7114, slocity.org
July 28, 2022
The Honorable Janet L. Yellen
Secretary of the Treasury
US Department of the Treasury
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20020
The Honorable Charles P. Rettig
Commissioner
Internal Revenue Service
1111 Constitution Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20024
Re: Deadline Extension for 2021 Enhanced Child Tax Credit for Taxpayers
Dear Secretary Yellen and Commissioner Rettig:
I am writing to request that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) extend the deadline for
claiming the 2021 enhanced Child Tax Credit for taxpayers in need of Individual
Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs). The request is for a one-year extension, which
the IRS can grant in light of the President’s COVID-19 emergency declaration.
The city is grateful for the Biden Administration’s demonstrated commitment to ensuring
that all eligible families apply for the 2021 enhanced Child Tax Credit, with a thorough
outreach campaign and a simple online enrollment option. This tax credit has already
provided crucial financial relief to millions of American families during the COVID -19
pandemic. It has been particularly effective in reducing child poverty in communities o f
color and immigrant communities, which continue to experience disproportionate
vulnerability to job and housing insecurity as a result of the pandemic.
Many members of mixed-status immigrant households need an ITIN to apply for the
Child Tax Credit. Because of misinformation in immigrant communities, pandemic-
related challenges, and the lack of targeted assistance, several community -based low-
income tax assistance providers have reported that many parents and other caretakers
of eligible children were unable to file for their ITINs before the April 2022 deadline and
are now looking for help. Since 88% of children with a noncitizen parent living in the
United States are Hispanic or non-White, communities of color have been
disproportionately excluded from this benefit.
Immigrant families deserve access to the significant financial support that the enhanced
Child Tax Credit provides. The City of San Luis Obispo respectfully requests that the
IRS grant them this access by extending the deadline for ITIN filers to the furthest
extent possible. Thank you for your consideration, and we look forward to partnering
with you to assist more families in accessing the Child Tax Credit in the coming months.
Sincerely,
Erica A Stewart
Mayor
City of San Luis Obispo
c. San Luis Obispo City Council
Senator Diane Feinstein
Senator Alex Padilla
Congressman Salud Carbajal