Form 2441 asking for Provider amount paid-3 must be entered I do not understand the question

[CherylW]

Turbo Tax is asking for the amount that you paid to your child's care provider.

You can usually find this amount on your bank statement if you paid them by check or debit card.

[salinanguyen]

What if i didn’t pay my provider? Because it was free and provided by the school. It is not allowing me to e-file or go any further because i entered 0.00

[JamesG1]

To qualify for the Child and Dependent Care credit, you must have paid such expenses.

The IRS form 2441 instructions, under Purpose of Form, reads:

“If you paid someone to care for your child or other qualifying person so you (and your spouse if filing jointly) could work or look for work in 2019, you may be able to take the credit for child and dependent care expenses.”

[Rharris2]

If I am filing single why does it keep saying married filing separate? And I also didn’t pay a provider. His school is free 

[BillM223]

"And I also didn’t pay a provider. His school is free "

To repeat what everyone has said above, you must PAY the provider to get the Child and Dependent Care Credit.

Because you did not pay a provider, you are not eligible for the credit, and so should delete all your entries about it.

[paulleland]

I am also having this issue ($0.00 paid to child care in 2019), but I cannot simply remove entries about it because this deduction was added automatically by TurboTax. When I try to edit the line to remove it, it just automatically re-applies. Basically the software is keeping itself in a loop...adding the deductible automatically but also complaining about the $0.00 entry. I don't really want to pay an extra $90 to talk to support about this, so I'm hoping someone can help out here. Is there a way to manually remove this deductible or fix this issue? Any direction is appreciated.

[Critter]

Here are instructions on how to delete the Child Dependent Care form 2441:

1. While signed in to your return, search for child care credit (use this exact term; if necessary, copy/paste from here).
   • Click the Jump to child care credit link in your search results.
2. At the Did you pay for child or dependent care in 2019? screen, answer Yes. (Even though it doesn't make sense.)
3. Continue to the Whose care did you pay for? screen and uncheck all boxes. Click Continue.
4. In the upper right corner, click My Account > Tools and then select Delete a Form from the options listed.
5. Scroll down the list of forms and click Delete next to 2441.
6. Click Delete Form to confirm. You should see the message Form Successfully Deleted. Click Continue.
7. Back at the Review Form List screen, scroll down to make sure 2441 no longer appears on the list.

[paulleland]

Thank you Critter! That solution worked for me and I was able to complete my e-file. Thanks again!

[1pvelasquez]

What if it doesn’t let me delete

[1pvelasquez]

I can’t delete it or skip anymore to finish filing 

[JoannaB2]

Yes. The form 2441 is used to report qualified childcare expenses paid to an individual or organization.  If you paid to an individual, you needed to enter caregiver's name, social security number, address, and the amount paid.  If it's an orgization,  enter the EIN, name of organization, address, and amount paid, 

If you don't have caregiving expenses and it prompted  to enter an amount, you may go back and edit the dependent's screen. Below are steps how to get to Form 2441:

1. Log in Turbo Tax.
2. Under Federal, jump to Deductions and Credits.
3. Scroll down to Child and Dependent Tax Credit, click edit.
4. Click edit next to dependent's name.
5. On the screen "Did you pay child or dependent care expenses in 2020, click no.

[Chanly]

What do I put in the provider paid amount box. It is saying what I put is too low

[xmasbaby0]

@Chanly Not sure why it would be saying the amount you paid for childcare is too low.  But we cannot see your screen or your tax return so we do not know what you entered.

CHILD AND DEPENDENT CARE CREDIT

You will not get the childcare credit until (unless) you enter income earned from working.   The credit does not work unless you enter your income first.   If you are filing a joint return you must show income for both spouses, or show that one or both of you was a student or disabled.   If you have self-employment income and show a loss you will not get the childcare credit.  You will not get the credit if you are filing married filing separately.  

If you have entered all of your income and you have entered your dependent(s) then work on the childcare credit by entering the Tax ID or Social Security number of your childcare provider and enter the amount you paid for the childcare.

One of the most common mistakes that messes up the childcare credit for people is listing all of the earned income under only one name on a joint return.  Make very sure that your incomes are listed under each of your names.  It’s pretty easy to check.  Go to the Income section, and click “update” on Wages and Salary.  That will take you to the W-2 Summary.  Do you see income listed under both of your names? 

 The person receiving the care had to be 12 or under or qualified as mentally or physically disabled. To claim the childcare credit you need to be filing as Head of Household or Married Filing Jointly. (NOT married filing separately)

 If your child was born in 2022 make sure you say the child lived with you all year. The credit is a percentage of your expenses based on your AGI (the higher the income, the lower the percentage)  You must provide the Social Security number for each child you are claiming, and the Social Security number or Tax ID for each care provider. 

In the case of divorced or never-married parents—only the custodial parent can use the childcare credit.

And remember that the childcare credit is a NON-refundable credit.  It can reduce your tax owed down to zero, but it is not added to your refund.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1900643-what-is-the-child-and-dependent-care-credit