North Carolina Extra Credit Grant Program: DEADLINE EXTENDED!

The NC Justice Center is not part of or affiliated with North Carolina’s government and agencies. If you have any questions or concerns about your payment, contact the NC Department of Revenue directly at 1-877-252-3052. Alternatively, contact ncecg@charlottelegaladvocacy.org or call at 1-888-301-1555 for assistance.

In September, the North Carolina Governor signed into law a bill to give a one-time payment of $335 to families with at least one qualifying child who was age 16 years or younger in 2019. Some families need to apply for the program, but many will receive it automatically if they filed their 2019 state income taxes. Look below to see which actions you may need to take to receive this money.

Download this Fact Sheet (PDF)

1. If you filed your 2019 state income taxes, you do not need to do anything unless

If you file using an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) instead of a Social Security Number (SSN), you will still receive the grant money.

2. If you did not need to file taxes in 2019 because your income is too low, you must fill out the application by December 7, 2020. The Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy is now managing the application process. Visit their website and sign up for updates to learn how to apply.

Generally, this will apply if your income is below $10,000 per year if single and $20,000 per year if married. For more information, see individual state filing requirements.

If you have an ITIN, you can use it on the application on the “SSN” field. Note that your qualifying child must have a SSN.

3. If you are required to file taxes and didn’t file yet for 2019, the deadline to file North Carolina individual income taxes was October 15, 2020. General income filing requirements are included below. You may be ineligible for the grant funds if you did not file your taxes before October 15. Please reach out to NC Department of Revenue or the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy for more information.

Generally, you must file state income taxes if your gross (pre-tax) income is larger than $10,000 per year if single and $20,000 per year if married. For more information, see individual state filing requirements.

You should know

If you are an immigrant who might want to apply for lawful status in the future, receiving this “Extra Credit” grant will not affect your future immigration application. It is not one of the types of benefits, which might be considered negatively in the immigration process.