Can you get money back for daycare expenses if you do not claim your child as a dependent?

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You may be able to claim the Child and Dependent Care Credit, but you must be the Custodial Parent.

To claim the Child and Dependent Care Credit for expenses paid for your children:

• The child must be age 12 or younger at the end of the year.
• You must be the custodial parent. If the child doesn’t live with you, you can’t claim the credit even if you pay the expense.
• You must be the one who paid the expense
• You can’t pay the expense to your spouse, the other parent, someone that you claim as a dependent, or your own child age 18 or younger
• You must have earned income such as W-2 income or self-employment income
• You paid the expense so that you can work or look for work
• If you’re married, you must file a joint return.
• You must provide the name, address and Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) of the person who provided the care. The taxpayer ID number is either a Social Security number (SSN) or an Employer Identification Number (EIN). 

If all of these things apply to you, go back and review your entries in the Child Care Credit section and make corrections if necessary.

Please see this link for more information.