Finding someone to take care of your child during work or school holidays can make a large part of your budget. You can send your children off to school for a lot of your childcare needs, but if your children are younger than the school age or on summer vacation, you will probably pay more for childcare. The government wants to help parents compensate for the costs of childcare for children under 13 years of age by offering a tax credit. The child to whom care is given must be a dependent of the taxpayer and separate rules apply to divorced or separated parents. Various types of childcare are eligible for the tax credit. It is important to be aware of the eligible care so that you can maximize your benefits and reduce tax expenses.
You may be entitled to a tax credit if you send your child to a day camp, including specialized camps (those focusing on a single sport or craft). It is imperative that the day camp complies with all state laws in relation to other centers of care. Camps don’t qualify where the child stays overnight. Expenses for the childcare tax credit before or after school for children in the kindergarten or at a higher level. Even children who are still not in the kindergarten can qualify if they have school costs. Facilities that serve six or more children are eligible for credit if they comply with all local and state laws. Parents whose children attend a day care center qualify for credit at home: this is an important distinction. If you pay someone to look at your child at home, you are not eligible for the loan. This is because the caregiver is your employee and you should follow payroll and taxation rules.
The childcare tax credit ranges from 20 to 35% of your expenses in relation to your annual income. The higher your income, the less you have a right to credit. For one child, the credit can be valued from $ 600 to $ 1,050 everywhere, as you can claim up to $ 3,000 in annual expenses. The expenditure limit for more than one child is increased to $ 6,000, but this is the maximum amount regardless of how many children are cared for. You will be required to submit information about the child care facility, such as the name, address, tax ID number of the provider for non-exempt organizations. You should ask for all this information when you pay for the service, so that you can claim the credit. In addition to federal credit, some states offer a tax credit. If you are residing in a state with this option, you may need to provide additional information such as a telephone number to claim the cost. If you file a joint return with your spouse, you can also qualify for the credit provided that your spouse is a full – time student. In addition, those who are the primary caregiver for their spouse with disabilities can qualify for the credit.
