Question

Child care expenses

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
March 4, 2025
2 replies
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My child’s mom and I have been separated for a few years. I am the custodial parent and she gets her as a dependent. My question is can we both write off our child care costs (daycare, fine art classes, etc…) on our taxes, or is only 1 filer able to write off that expense?

X

xmasbaby0

Only the custodial parent can claim the childcare credit. The parent who pays for childcare in order to work gets that credit----not a parent who can go to work without worrying about or arranging childcare.

Are you the custodial parent? Do you have an agreement with the other parent to allow the other parent to claim them--due to divorce or that you live apart and share custody? Did one of you sign a Form 8332?

If there is a signed 8332 then the custodial parent retains the right to file as Head of Household, get earned income credit and the childcare credit. The non-custodial parent gets the child tax credit for children under the age of 17. If the child is 17 or older the non-custodial parent gets the $500 credit for other dependents.

If you and the other parent have a signed agreement, you need to indicate in MY INFO that you have such an agreement.

As far as the IRS is concerned, the custodial parent is the one with whom the child spent the most nights during the tax year--at least 183 nights.

**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**

N

NCPERSON1

@XCRSlowpoke only the custodial parent can claim the credit. Further, I assume you are filing HOH? If you are filing MFS, you are ineligible for the credit.