Today, November 17, is the Free File deadline. For more information please click here.

The Internal Revenue Service today reminded those who still need to file their 2021 tax returns that IRS Free File remains open until November 17 and can help those who qualify claim the Child Tax Credit, Recovery Rebate Credit or Earned Income Tax Credit.

These and other tax benefits were expanded under last year’s American Rescue Plan Act and other recent legislation. The only way to get these valuable benefits, however, is to file a 2021 tax return.

Last month, the Internal Revenue Service sent letters to more than 9 million individuals and families who appeared to qualify for a variety of key tax benefits but had not yet claimed them by filing a 2021 federal income tax return.

Many in this group may be eligible to claim some or all of the 2021 Recovery Rebate Credit, the Child Tax Credit, the Earned Income Tax Credit and other tax credits, depending on their personal and family situation. The letter, printed in both English and Spanish, provided a brief overview of each of these credits.

Often, individuals and families can get these expanded tax benefits, even if they have little or no income from a job, business or other source. This means that many people who don’t normally need to file a tax return should do so this year, even if they haven’t been required to file in recent years.

There’s no penalty for a refund claimed on a tax return filed after the regular April 2022 tax deadline. The fastest and easiest way to get a refund is to file an accurate return electronically and choose direct deposit.

To help people claim these benefits without charge, IRS Free File will remain open this year, until November 17, 2022. Available only at IRS.gov/freefile, IRS Free File lets people whose incomes are $73,000 or less to file a return online for free using brand-name software.