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What families who receive SNAP should know when they claim the Minnesota Child Tax Credit

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Households with children may qualify for a Child Tax Credit of up to $1,750 per qualifying child when they file their taxes this year. Households can receive the credit even if they don't owe taxes. Find out if you qualify on The Minnesota Department of Revenue website.

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How to get the Child Tax Credit

Households must file an income tax return to get the Child Tax Credit, even if they don't owe taxes. The Minnesota Department of Revenue offers Free Tax Preparation Help for households with low income.

Households can choose to get part of their future 2026 Child Tax Credit in advance

Normally, households receive their Child Tax Credit in a one-time payment when they file their taxes. In addition to the 2025 Child Tax Credit one-time payment, households can choose to get part of their 2026 Child Tax Credit in advance payments. This additional option was added last year. 

Households who receive SNAP will need to report the advance payments according to their household’s reporting requirements. The advance payments will be included in the SNAP budget that is used to determine eligibility and benefit amount. When a household’s income increases and household size stays the same, their monthly SNAP benefit amount may decrease.

The advance payments count as income for SNAP cases only. Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) cases are not impacted.

Estimator Tool: Advance Child Tax Credit Impact on SNAP

This tool provides an estimated impact of advance payments on a household's SNAP benefit using household's current SNAP case information. This estimate will be most accurate for SNAP cases that do not anticipate substantial changes in income, expenses, or SNAP case members between filing taxes and receiving advance payments.

The tool is meant to give an estimate only. Final decisions on eligibility and benefit amounts will be made by a county or Tribal Nation eligibility worker.

Use estimator tool

Questions? Watch this video on how to use the tool

SNAP benefits are not impacted for households that claim the Child Tax Credit without advance payments.

Frequently Asked Questions

Households with specific questions about the Child Tax Credit Advance Payments interaction with SNAP can call the SNAP hotline at (651) 431-4050 or (800) 657-3698 and select option 6. 

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