topic Why won't it let me enter the amount I paid for my child's daycare? in Deductions & credits

Why won't it let me enter the amount I paid for my child's daycare?

vlassin — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 10:08:56 GMT

Re: Why won't it let me enter the amount I paid for my child's daycare?

VolvoGirl — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 02:22:49 GMT

Have you entered your income yet? You need to enter your W2 and 1099 first. Or do you get a message that you have to be disabled etc? Wait until you get your W2 later this month.

Don't be in a hurry to file. The IRS is not opening until Jan 29 this year! So you will be waiting awhile to get Accepted or Rejected. And you might get more tax forms in the mail you forgot about or weren't expecting. The employers and banks, etc. don't have to mail the W2 and 1099 forms until Jan 31. That's why we say don't rush to file.

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2024-tax-filing-season-set-for-january-29-irs-continues-to-make-improvements-to-help-taxpayers

Re: Why won't it let me enter the amount I paid for my child's daycare?

xmasbaby0 — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 02:23:37 GMT

If you are trying to work on the childcare credit before you have entered your W-2 or self-employment income, that is the problem. You must first enter the income you earned from working.