I paid for child care for my daughter in the 2016 year. I am not claiming her on my taxes, her mother is this year. But I wanted to deduct my portion how can I do that?

[macuser_22]

To claim child care the child must have lived with you more than half of 2016.

Child care is "work related". It can only be claimed if the care was necessary so that you (and your spouse if married) could work. Only if the child lived with you more than half the year *and* to was required so that you could work is it allowed.

If you did not live with the child or work at the time that the care was provided then it was not necessary so that you could work and therefore is not allowed.