How does Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit work?

File a federal and New York State 2022 tax return by April 18, 2023 to claim the credit. When you file, include Form 2441 with your U.S. Individual Income Tax Return Form 1040 or U.S. Nonresident Income Tax Return Form 1040NR . Qualified expenses include money paid out of pocket for the care of a qualifying child or children while you work or look for work. This includes the cost of care outside the home, such as at a day care center, or inside your home, such as a babysitter. When you claim this credit when filing a tax return, you can lower the taxes you owe and potentially increase your refund.

Am I eligible for Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit?

To be eligible for the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, you should be able to answer yes to these questions: Did you pay someone or an organization to care for your dependent so that you (and your spouse, if filing a joint return) could work or look for work? Qualifying dependents are: a child under age 13 at the time of care; a spouse or dependent who cannot physically or mentally care for themselves. Did the dependent live with you for more than half the tax year? Did you (and your spouse if you file taxes jointly) earn income? These can be from wages, salaries, tips, other taxable employee money, or earnings from self-employment. Is your tax filing status single, married filing jointly, head of household or qualifying widow(er) with a dependent child? If you are married, do both you and your spouse work outside of the home? Or, do one of you work outside of the home while the other is a full-time student, has a disability, or is looking for work?

How do I Apply to Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit?

File your taxes for free online with NYC Free Tax Prep if your family earned $80,000 or less or if you’re a single filer who earned $56,000 or less in 2022. IRS-certified VITA/TCE volunteer preparers can help you file online, in person, or when you drop off your documents. You will need these forms when filing your tax return: Child and Dependent Care Expenses form: Form 2441 . U.S. Individual Income Tax Return: Form 1040 or U.S. Nonresident Income Tax Return: Form 1040NR . File your taxes for free online with NYC Free Tax Prep if your family earned $80,000 or less or if you’re a single filer who earned $56,000 or less in 2022. IRS-certified VITA/TCE volunteer preparers can help you file in person, or when you drop off your documents.

Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit

1. How it Works

The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit reimburses you if you paid for child care or care for an adult dependent. For tax year 2022, filers may be eligible to claim up to $3,000 of the cost of care services for one qualifying person and $6,000 for care services for two or more qualifying persons. You can then be reimbursed for up to 50% of these costs.

File a federal and New York State 2022 tax return by April 18, 2023 to claim the credit.
- When you file, include Form 2441 with your U.S. Individual Income Tax Return Form 1040 or U.S. Nonresident Income Tax Return Form 1040NR.
Qualified expenses include money paid out of pocket for the care of a qualifying child or children while you work or look for work.
- This includes the cost of care outside the home, such as at a day care center, or inside your home, such as a babysitter.
When you claim this credit when filing a tax return, you can lower the taxes you owe and potentially increase your refund.

Next section:

2. Determine Your Eligibility

2. Determine your eligibility

To be eligible for the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, you should be able to answer yes to these questions:

Did you pay someone or an organization to care for your dependent so that you (and your spouse, if filing a joint return) could work or look for work? Qualifying dependents are:
- a child under age 13 at the time of care;
- a spouse or dependent who cannot physically or mentally care for themselves.
Did the dependent live with you for more than half the tax year?
Did you (and your spouse if you file taxes jointly) earn income? These can be from wages, salaries, tips, other taxable employee money, or earnings from self-employment.
Is your tax filing status single, married filing jointly, head of household or qualifying widow(er) with a dependent child?
If you are married, do both you and your spouse work outside of the home?
- Or, do one of you work outside of the home while the other is a full-time student, has a disability, or is looking for work?

Take a short survey to see if you might be eligible for this or 30 other programs.

Am I Eligible?

Next section:

3. What You Need to Include

3. What you need to include

This page can help you choose the right documents for your application.

If you want to receive your refund through direct deposit, you will need banking information (voided check and/or savings deposit slip).

You should bring a copy of last year’s return, if it is available.

For each person applying, any one document: Drivers license/official photo ID
Social Security Card for dependents
Social Security Card or ITIN

Next section:

4. How to Apply

4. How to apply

Here are your options.

File your taxes for free online with NYC Free Tax Prep if your family earned $80,000 or less or if you’re a single filer who earned $56,000 or less in 2022. IRS-certified VITA/TCE volunteer preparers can help you file online, in person, or when you drop off your documents.

File online

Come back to it later.
We can send you a link to this page to help you get back to it when you’re ready.

Get help now

Tax refund if you paid for child and dependent care