Deductions & credits

You must enter your income (and the income of your spouse) for the child care expense screens to populate and you must meet several criteria to qualify for the child and dependent care credit.

To qualify, you must meet all of the following:

• You (and your spouse, if you are married filing jointly) must have earned income for the tax year.
• You must be the custodial parent or main caretaker of the child or dependent.
• The child or dependent care service must have been used so that you could work or look for employment. 
• Your filing status must be single, head of household, qualifying widow or widower with a qualifying child, or married filing jointly.
• Your child or dependent must be under 13 or must be disabled and physically or mentally incapable of caring for themselves.
• The childcare provider cannot be your spouse or dependent or the child's parent.

Keep in mind that expenses related to schooling, tutoring, or overnight camps are not qualifying expenses.

Qualifying expenses also include:

• Childcare provided by a babysitter or licensed dependent care center.
• The cost of a cook, housekeeper, maid or cleaning person who provides care for the child or dependent.
• Day camp or summer camp fees, even for camps centered around a sport or activity, qualify if the camp was selected to provide care while the parent or parents were at work. However, overnight camps do not qualify.
• Costs related to before- and after-school care for children under 13.
• Costs related to a nurse, home care provider, or other care provider for a disabled dependent.

Once you enter your income, and are qualified to deduct childcare expenses, please follow these steps in TurboTax: 

1. While signed in to your return, search for child care credit (use this exact term) and select the Jump to link at the top of your search results.
2. This will take you to the Did you pay for child or dependent care in 2021? screen. Answer Yes (even if the real answer is no).
3. Follow the on-screen instructions.