You must have earned income to claim the credit, as it is available to parents who paid for childcare while working, looking for work, or as a full-time student. The credit will be limited based on your income.
Keep in mind the credit is nonrefundable. That means, it can only reduce your tax liability down to $0. If you do not have a tax liability because your taxable income is $0 or it has been reduced by child tax credit or other credits, the child care credit will not have any affect on your return.
Follow these steps in TurboTax Online. (This may vary slightly in desktop versions)
- Under the Federal menu, click Deductions & Credits
- Expand the menu for You and Your Family
- Click Start/Revisit next to Child and Dependent Care Credit
- Answer Yes to Did you pay for child or dependent care in 2019?
- Choose the dependent and click Continue
- On the screen that follows, click Add a care provider
- Enter the information on the following screens
Child and Dependent Care Credit
Publication 503
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