You will be able to claim your adoption credit on next year's tax return. IRS guidance states that you can claim the expense the year after you incurred or paid them if the adoption is still in progress and not final. Adoption Credit.
If you pay qualified adoption expenses in any year before the year that your adoption becomes final, you can claim the credit for those expenses on your tax return for the year after the year you paid such expenses. Expenses paid in the year the adoption is finalized or later can be claimed for the tax year your expenses were paid.
There were positive changes made to the Adoption Credit in the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) that increased the federal adoption credit to a maximum of up to $17,280 per eligible child, and up to $5,000 becoming a refundable credit. Prior to 2025, the Adoption Credit was nonrefundable and could only be used to reduce your tax liability.
Click here for Adoption Tax Credit for 2025-2026.
Click here for How do I claim the Adoption Credit in 2025?
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