Can you claim childcare if you paid a sitter under the table? They are a stay at home mom who needed extra income.

[MindyB]

No. It is important to understand that claiming this credit while paying "under the table" is not allowed. 

To claim the Child and Dependent Care Credit, you are legally required to disclose the sitter’s Social Security Number, which creates a record of her earnings. If she is not reporting that money as income while you are reporting it as an expense, it creates a red flag for tax evasion that could trigger an audit for both of you. 

Furthermore, if the total you pay her exceeds the annual IRS threshold, which is $2,800 for the 2025 tax year, the law requires you to withhold and pay household employment taxes. 

You may find this article helpful: Guide to the Nanny Tax for Babysitters and Employers

[xmasbaby0]

When you enter the childcare credit on your tax return, you also must enter a SSN or Tax ID for the person or daycare service that provided the childcare.  The IRS matches up the amount you paid with the income reported by the person with that SSN or Tax ID.   You cannot pay a babysitter "under the table" and get child care credit.