What if only one of my children has child care expenses?
If you have more than one qualifying child for the Child Care Credit, but only one of them has child care expenses, you may qualify for higher credit limits.
If one of your children without child care expenses is a qualifying child you can use the higher $6,000 expense limit when figuring the credit. If your child care expenses are over $3,000 this may give you a larger Child Care Credit.
Example 1: You have two kids who are your dependents, one age 4 and one age 10. Your 4-year-old isn't in school yet and goes to daycare. Your 10-year-old is in school and does after school sports and has no child care expenses.
You entered $6,000 of expenses for your 4-year-old. Since your 10-year-old is a qualifying child, you can include your 10-year-old with the Child Tax Credit. This raises the expense limits allowed for the Child Care Credit and could increase your credit.
Example 2: You pay child care expenses for one of your children who is 3 years old. Your ex-spouse pays child support that pays for the child care of your other child who is 8 years old.
You meet the requirement as the custodial parent for divorced or separated parents and the other requirements. You can include your 8-year-old with the Child Tax Credit. This raises the expense limits of the Child Care Credit and could increase your credit if the expenses for your 3-year-old are more than $3,000.
If one of your children without child care expenses is a qualifying child you can use the higher $6,000 expense limit when figuring the credit. If your child care expenses are over $3,000 this may give you a larger Child Care Credit.
Example 1: You have two kids who are your dependents, one age 4 and one age 10. Your 4-year-old isn't in school yet and goes to daycare. Your 10-year-old is in school and does after school sports and has no child care expenses.
You entered $6,000 of expenses for your 4-year-old. Since your 10-year-old is a qualifying child, you can include your 10-year-old with the Child Tax Credit. This raises the expense limits allowed for the Child Care Credit and could increase your credit.
Example 2: You pay child care expenses for one of your children who is 3 years old. Your ex-spouse pays child support that pays for the child care of your other child who is 8 years old.
You meet the requirement as the custodial parent for divorced or separated parents and the other requirements. You can include your 8-year-old with the Child Tax Credit. This raises the expense limits of the Child Care Credit and could increase your credit if the expenses for your 3-year-old are more than $3,000.
