Child Care Tax Credit

If your child or disabled dependant was in day care you may be eligible to claim this credit.

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Child care tax credit: the basics

This credit is designed to benefit individuals who have jobs that make child care essential.

The child care credit is limited to a maximum of $3,000 for one child (or dependant) and $6,000 for more than one.

Child care tax credit: who qualifies

To be eligible, :

  • You (and your spouse, if you are married) must work.
  • The child cannot be older than 13.
  • The child care must be provided by someone not in your family.

For the dependent care credit:

  • You (and your spouse, it you are married) must work.
  • The dependent can not be capable of self-care.

Depending on your income, 20%-35% of your child care costs can be claimed as a tax credit.

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Child care tax credit: the forms

To claim the credit, your tax return must include:

  • the name of the care provider,
  • the provider's address and identification number
  • the total amount paid for care during the tax year.

Also, the name and social security number for each child or dependent is required.

All information should be recorded on IRS Form 2441 if you file a 1040, or Schedule 2 if you file a 1040A, and sent in with your tax return. (With e-filing the form is completed for you.)

Related IRS publications

Get more information about the credit for disabled dependent and child care from IRS Publication 503

For a paper tax return, attach IRS Form 2441 with your 1040, or if you file a 1040A, you need to attach Schedule 2

If you e-file, this will all be finished for you automatically.

Note: you will need an Adobe Acrobat Reader to view these publications, which you can get here.