How does Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit work?

File your 2023 tax return by April 15, 2024 to claim this credit. You qualify if you paid for the care of a qualifying child or children while you worked or looked for work. This includes costs for a day care center or a babysitter.

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 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 adult dependent who cannot physically or mentally care for themselves. Did the dependent live with you for more than half of 2023? 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. 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?

What do I need in order to apply to Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit?

To claim the credit, you will need to prove the following for all people listed on your tax return: Identity and age: such as photo ID, driver’s license, IDNYC, passport, or naturalization certificate. Citizenship or immigration status: such as your birth certificate or a U.S. passport. Your earned and unearned income (if any): such as a recent pay stub or unemployment benefits statement, pension correspondence, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Dependent care cost: Amount of money you paid for your child or dependent’s care.

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

Get free tax filing help if your family earned $85,000 or less or if you’re a single filer who earned $59,000 or less in 2023. IRS-certified VITA/TCE volunteer preparers can help you file online, in person, or after 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 . Get free tax filing help if your family earned $85,000 or less or if you’re a single filer who earned $59,000 or less in 2023. IRS-certified VITA/TCE volunteer preparers can help you file online, in person, or after you drop off your documents.

Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit

1. How it Works

The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit reimburses up to 50% of costs for caring for a child or adult dependent. On your 2023 tax return, you can claim up to $3,000 for the cost of care for one qualifying person and $6,000 for care for two or more qualifying persons.

File your 2023 tax return by April 15, 2024 to claim this credit.
You qualify if you paid for the care of a qualifying child or children while you worked or looked for work. This includes costs for a day care center or a babysitter.

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 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 adult dependent who cannot physically or mentally care for themselves.
Did the dependent live with you for more than half of 2023?
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.
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?

Next section:

3. What You Need to Include

3. What you need to include

To claim the credit, you will need to prove the following for all people listed on your tax return:

Identity and age: such as photo ID, driver’s license, IDNYC, passport, or naturalization certificate.
Citizenship or immigration status: such as your birth certificate or a U.S. passport.
Your earned and unearned income (if any): such as a recent pay stub or unemployment benefits statement, pension correspondence, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
Dependent care cost: Amount of money you paid for your child or dependent’s care.

Next section:

4. How to Apply

4. How to apply

Get free tax filing help if your family earned $85,000 or less or if you’re a single filer who earned $59,000 or less in 2023. IRS-certified VITA/TCE volunteer preparers can help you file online, in person, or after you drop off your documents.

File online

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.

Find a tax prep location

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