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Level 2
January 25, 2022
Question

I have 2 dependent children, earned income from w2, and paid for childcare so that i could work or look for work. but it wont let me claim the dependent care credit. why?

  • January 25, 2022
  • 2 replies
  • 17 views
i have double checked the "my info" section to make sure they are my dependents and lived with me all year. i got the child tax credit for each, but when i go through the dependent care credit, answer everything correctly, it says $0.

2 replies

Level 7
January 25, 2022

Did you have a profit on your Sch C? 

Level 15
January 25, 2022

The first thing you should check is if your children are under the age of 13. If so, make sure you entered the care provider information properly, especially their tax payer identification number. Also, you can't be filing as married separate and you have to have lived in the United States for at least half the year to receive a refundable dependent care credit.

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Alumni - Champ
January 25, 2022

You are asking from TT Self-Employed.  Do you also have SE income, and is there a profit from it?

Level 2
January 25, 2022

Ah, this might be the problem. I haven't worked through the self employment income and deductions for my spouse yet. So maybe TT software shows her as having no earned income yet. I will do the self employment stuff and try to claim the credit again. Thank you!