In the United States, low-income households often rely on social programs and tax refunds to balance their budgets. One significant financial support is the Child Tax Credit (CTC), which helps reduce tax bills dollar for dollar.

The IRS began processing tax returns Monday. For filers who submit their returns electronically using direct deposit, refunds are generally issued in less than 21 days. There is a caution from the tax agency, however, that urges “taxpayers not to rely on receiving refund by a certain date, especially when making major purchases or paying bills.