IRS Publication 5585 Spanish – Are you a Spanish-speaking taxpayer looking for clear information on the 2021 Child Tax Credit and other family benefits? The IRS created Publication 5585 (SP) — Créditos Tributarios de 2021 Relacionados con los Hijos — specifically for you. This official, easy-to-read Spanish guide summarizes the major child-related tax credits available for tax year 2021, including the historic expansions from the American Rescue Plan Act.
Whether you’re filing (or amending) a 2021 return, helping family members, or simply want to understand what was available, this publication delivers straightforward bullet-point explanations in Spanish. Below is everything you need to know, with direct quotes and details from the official IRS document.
What Is IRS Publication 5585 (Spanish Version)?
Publication 5585 (SP) (Catalog Number 92843J, revised December 2021) is a concise, one-page flyer-style resource from the Internal Revenue Service. It explains four key child- and family-related tax credits for the 2021 tax year in plain Spanish:
- Crédito por Ingreso del Trabajo (Earned Income Tax Credit – EITC)
- Crédito Tributario por Hijos (Child Tax Credit – CTC)
- Crédito por Otros Dependientes (Credit for Other Dependents – ODC)
- Crédito por Cuidado de Hijos y Dependientes (Child and Dependent Care Credit – CDCC)
The publication highlights the special 2021 rules that made these credits more generous and accessible than in previous years. It also directs readers to free tax help resources and online tools (via QR codes) for advance Child Tax Credit payments.
Direct PDF Download (Official IRS Link):
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p5585sp.pdf
The English version (Publication 5585) is available at the same IRS page for bilingual households.
Why the 2021 Child Tax Credits Were Different?
Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, 2021 featured the largest-ever expansion of the Child Tax Credit:
- Fully refundable (low-income families with no tax liability could still receive the full amount)
- Higher maximum amounts
- Advance monthly payments sent from July to December 2021 (up to half the credit)
- No minimum income requirement for the CTC
Publication 5585 (SP) captures these changes in simple language so Spanish-speaking families could take full advantage.
Key Credits Explained (Straight from Publication 5585 SP)
1. Crédito por Ingreso del Trabajo (EITC)
- Up to $6,728 if claiming three or more qualifying children
- Household earned income must be less than $57,414
- You and your spouse need valid Social Security numbers
- Qualifying child must be younger than you, under age 19 (or full-time student under 24), or any age if permanently and totally disabled
- Possible to claim EITC with no qualifying child if earned income is under $21,430 ($27,380 if married filing jointly)
2. Crédito Tributario por Hijos (Child Tax Credit – CTC)
- Up to $3,600 per child age 5 or younger at the end of 2021
- Up to $3,000 per child ages 6–17 at the end of 2021
- No income required to claim in 2021 (a major change)
- Qualifying child must have a valid Social Security number (valid for employment)
- Child must be claimed as a dependent on your return
- Includes foster children and certain extended family members who meet relationship, age, residency, and support tests
- Dependents who don’t qualify for the full CTC may still give you the Crédito por Otros Dependientes (up to $500 per dependent)
3. Crédito por Cuidado de Hijos y Dependientes (Child and Dependent Care Credit)
- Up to $4,000 for one qualifying person
- Up to $8,000 for two or more qualifying persons
- Must have paid for care so you (and spouse, if married) could work or look for work
- Qualifying person must have lived with you more than half the year and be under age 13 (or incapable of self-care)
- Care provider can have an SSN, ITIN, or ATIN
How to Claim These Credits on Your 2021 Return?
According to the publication:
- Claim qualifying children/dependents on your Form 1040.
- Use Schedule 8812 (Credits for Qualifying Children and Other Dependents) to calculate the Child Tax Credit and reconcile any advance payments you received.
- File even if you normally don’t have to file — many families received refunds they wouldn’t have otherwise.
- Use the IRS Child Tax Credit Eligibility Assistant and Advance Payment tools (links/QR codes in the publication).
Important 2021 Note: If you received advance CTC payments but were eligible for more (or received less), filing a 2021 return lets you claim the remainder. The publication points you to free Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites for help.
Free Tax Help for Spanish Speakers (Resources in the Publication)
The IRS publication prominently lists:
- VITA/TCE Free Tax Preparation — Call 1-800-906-9887 or visit irs.gov/es (Spanish site)
- EITC Assistant and Child Tax Credit tools in Spanish
- IRS.gov/espanol for interactive eligibility checkers
Who Should Download Publication 5585 Spanish?
- Spanish-speaking families with children under 18 in 2021
- Taxpayers who received (or missed) 2021 advance Child Tax Credit payments
- Anyone helping parents, grandparents, or extended family file 2021 returns
- Bilingual tax preparers and community organizations serving Latino households
Related Official IRS Resources (2021 Child Tax Credits)
- Publication 5534-G (SP) – “File a 2021 Tax Return to Get the Remainder of Your 2021 Child Tax Credit”
- Topic A: 2021 Child Tax Credit Basics (irs.gov)
- Schedule 8812 Instructions
- English Publication 5585
Direct PDF Link Again: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p5585sp.pdf
Final Thoughts
IRS Publication 5585 Spanish remains one of the clearest, most accessible official documents explaining the groundbreaking 2021 child tax credits. Its simple bullet-point format in everyday Spanish helped thousands of families understand their eligibility for up to $3,600 per young child — with no income barrier.
Even years later, this publication serves as a valuable historical and educational reference for anyone researching 2021 tax benefits or assisting Spanish-speaking community members.
Download it today and share with anyone who might still need to claim or understand their 2021 Child Tax Credit, EITC, or dependent care benefits.
Keywords searched by readers: IRS Publication 5585 Spanish PDF, Créditos Tributarios Relacionados con los Hijos 2021, Child Tax Credit 2021 Spanish, Crédito Tributario por Hijos 2021 explicación en español, cómo reclamar CTC 2021.
For the most current tax-year information (2025 or later), always check IRS.gov or consult a VITA volunteer. Publication 5585 (SP) is the official 2021 guide you can trust.