LogFAQs > #959308849

Firewood18 posted...

Because even though the tax credit has been increased overall, theyre paying out half of it over a six month period. So if your earnings have increased this year, you might need that cushion in case you owe more. Then again, you might not really need the money right away and would rather get it on next years tax return all together.

Pretty much this. it is also based on your last-year's tax return, so they are basically estimating what you should get. If it turns out you didn't qualify for that much, you could also end up 'paying back' part of it at tax time.