How do I get to the Child and Dependent Care Credit in TurboTax?

by TurboTax •   206
Updated December 11, 2025 5:54 AM

Follow these steps to get to the Child and Dependent Care Credit in TurboTax.

TurboTax Online

  • If you're not in your return already, sign in to TurboTax.

  • Select Deductions & Credits from the side menu.

  • On the Your tax breaks screen, locate You and Your Family, and choose Start or Revisit next to Dependent Care Credit.

  • On the Did you pay for child and dependent care? screen, select Yes, answer the questions on the next screen, and continue.

  • At the Whose care did you pay for? screen, select either:

    • The Choose a name dropdown, then select a dependent's name, and select Continue, or

    • Add Another Person and

      • On the Personal profile screen, select and follow the steps for Add another dependent.

      • Answer the additional dependent info questions.

      • On the Personal profile screen, select Deductions & Credits from the side menu.

      • On the Your tax breaks screen, beside Dependent Care Credit, select Revisit. This takes you back to the Did you pay for child and dependent care in 2024? screen from the previous step (Step 4), where you will once again select Yes, and proceed.

  • On the How much did you pay for [your dependent's] care in 2024? screen, enter the total amount of expenses and select Continue.

  • On the Here's what we have so far screen, review the info and select either Add Expenses for Another, or Done.

  • On the screen Let's get some info about your care provider, provide the requested information, and select Continue when complete.

TurboTax Desktop

  • Open your return in TurboTax Desktop.

  • Select the Federal Taxes tab (or the Personal tab in TurboTax Home & Business), then select Deductions & Credits.

  • Select I'll choose what I work on.

    • On the list of sections, locate You and Your Family.

    • Then select Start or Update next to Child and Dependent Care Credit.

  • On the Did you pay for child and dependent care in 2024? screen, select Yes.

  • At the Whose care did you pay for? screen, select either:

    • The Choose a name dropdown, then select a dependent's name, and select Continue, or

    • Add Another Person and

      • On the Your Children and Others You Support screen, select and follow the steps for Add another dependent.

      • Answer the additional dependent info questions.

      • Select the Federal Taxes tab (or the Personal tab in TurboTax Home & Business), then select Deductions & Credits.

      • Select I'll choose what I work on.

        • On the list of sections, locate You and Your Family.

        • Then select Start or Update next to Child and Dependent Care Credit.

      • On the Did you pay for child and dependent care in 2024? screen, select Yes (previous step 4), where you will once again select Yes, and proceed.

  • On the How much did you pay for [your dependent's] care in 2024? screen, enter the total amount of expenses and select Continue.

  • On the Here's what we have so far screen, review the info and select either Add Expenses for Another, or Done.

  • On the Let's get some info about your care provider screen, provide the requested information and select Continue when complete.

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