Summer Camp 2024 & 2025

[b_07]

If I paid for part of 2025 summer camp in 2024, do I report that on my 2024 return?

If I paid for part of 2024 summer camp in 2023, do I report that on my 2024 return?  Or that would have had to been reported on 2023 return?

[rjs]

I assume you are asking about claiming expenses for the child and dependent care credit. If you pay in an earlier year you claim the expenses in the year that the care is provided. If you paid part of the cost of 2025 summer camp in 2024, you include it in the expenses that you report on your 2025 tax return. If you paid part of the cost of 2024 summer camp in 2023, you include it in the expenses that you report on your 2024 tax return.

You probably know, but just as a reminder, only day camp qualifies for the child and dependent care credit, not overnight camp.

[b_07]

Thanks for the quick response!  That's what I thought and that's what the turbotax chat had told me.  But when I talked to TurboTax on the phone, she said that if I paid in 2024 for 2025 summer camp, that I would include it on my 2024 return.  And that what I paid in 2023 for 2024 summer camp, I would have to complete an amended 2023 return.  So I was getting two different answers.

[rjs]

Here's what the IRS says, in Publication 503, Child and Dependent Care Expenses, on page 10.

"Expenses prepaid in an earlier year. If you pay for services before they are provided, you can count the prepaid expenses only in the year the care is received. Claim the expenses for the later year as if they were actually paid in that later year."