Child and dependent care expenses

[RobertG]

What is your question?

Here is some information on the Child and Dependent Care Credit

The Child and Dependent Care Credit (not to be confused with the similar-sounding Child Tax Credit) can reduce your tax bill if you paid for a dependent's care so that you could work or look for work.

To qualify for this credit, you must meet all of these criteria:

• You (and your spouse, if filing jointly) must have earned income.
  • The earned income requirement for one spouse is waived if s/he was a full-time student or disabled (if they lived with your spouse for more than 6 months in 2019).
• You paid caregiving expenses so that you (and your spouse, if filing jointly) could work or look for work.
  • The work/look for work requirement for one spouse is waived if s/he was a full-time student or disabled (if they lived with the other spouse for more than 6 months in 2019).
• You paid a caregiver to care for a Qualifying Person. The caregiver can't be:
  • Your spouse
  • Your dependent
  • Your child if they were under 19 on the last day of 2019, even if not your dependent
  • The parent of the Qualifying Person, if the Qualifying Person is your child under the age of 13 during 2019
• You can't file with the Married Filing Separately filing status (except under certain circumstances).
• You must furnish the care provider's name, address, and (unless it's a tax-exempt organization) their SSN, ITIN, or EIN on your return.

The credit is worth anywhere from 20% to 35% of your qualified expenses, up to $3,000 (for one qualifying person) and $6,000 (for two or more qualifying persons). Your percentage depends on your AGI, with the higher percentages applying to lower incomes and vice-versa.

TurboTax will determine your eligibility and calculate the maximum credit allowed.

[Neonkid8]

What is the difference between Child and dependent care expenses and Child and dependent care credit? I have my daycare's EIN but I can't put it anywhere in this years (2022) taxes. Are they the same this year?

[MarilynG1]

You may qualify for a Child and Dependent Care Credit after you report your child and dependent care expenses.  This is found in the Deductions & Credits section under 'You and Your Family', then choose 'Child and Dependent Care Credit' (same as last year).

Or, type 'child care credit' in the Search area, then 'Jump to child care credit'.

Be sure to go through the Child and Other Dependent Tax Credit and Earned Income Credit sections too!