How do I add a child care provider who cared for my children at a foreign location?

[HelenC12]

In order to enter the child care provider, you must furnish the care provider's name, address, and (unless it's a tax-exempt organization) their SSN, ITIN, or EIN on your return. 

However, you may still claim the child and dependent care credit when you're missing the provider's social security number or other taxpayer identification number by demonstrating due diligence in attempting to secure this information.

• Claim the childcare expenses on Form 2441, Child and Dependent Care Expenses and provide the care provider's information you have available (such as name and address).
• Write "See Attached Statement" in the columns missing information.
• Explain on the attached statement that you requested the provider's identifying number, but the provider didn't give it to you.
• This statement supports the exercise of due diligence in trying to secure the identifying information for the claim.

The Child and Dependent Care Credit (not to be confused with the similar-sounding Child Tax Credit) can reduce your tax bill if you paid for a dependent's care so that you could work or look for work.

To qualify for this credit, you must meet all of these criteria:

• You (and your spouse, if filing jointly) must have earned income.
  • The earned income requirement for one spouse is waived if s/he was a full-time student or disabled (if they lived with your spouse for more than 6 months in 2020).
• You paid caregiving expenses so that you (and your spouse, if filing jointly) could work or look for work.
  • The work/look for work requirement for one spouse is waived if s/he was a full-time student or disabled (if they lived with the other spouse for more than 6 months in 2020).
• You paid a caregiver to care for a Qualifying Person. The caregiver can't be:
  • Your spouse
  • Your dependent
  • Your child if they were under 19 on the last day of 2020, even if not your dependent
  • The parent of the Qualifying Person, if the Qualifying Person is your child under the age of 13 during 2020
• You can't file with the Married Filing Separately filing status (except under certain circumstances).
• You must furnish the care provider's name, address, and (unless it's a tax-exempt organization) their SSN, ITIN, or EIN on your return.

The credit is worth anywhere from 20% to 35% of your qualified expenses, up to $3,000 (for one qualifying person) and $6,000 (for two or more qualifying persons). Your percentage depends on your AGI, with the higher percentages applying to lower incomes and vice-versa.

TurboTax will determine your eligibility and calculate the maximum credit allowed.

Related Information:

• Who is a Qualifying Person for the Child and Dependent Care Credit?
• How do I get to the Child and Dependent Care Credit in TurboTax?
• What is the $500 Credit for Other Dependents (“Family Tax Credit”)?

[vrny2000]

I am trying to add child care providers (filled in EIN, address, etc.), however, none of the information gets saved when I click continue! I tried with 2 different providers. Then at the end of the return, it says to fix this error. Please help. 

[DaveF1006]

The EIN is probably not a valid US EIN. According to the IRS instructions, If you are living abroad, your care provider may not have, and may not be required to get, a U.S. taxpayer identification number (for example, an SSN or EIN). If so, enter LAFCP (Living Abroad Foreign Care Provider) in the space for the care provider's taxpayer identification number.