I paid for childcare during 2023. When I answer the questions in the deductions section, I am not allowed to enter an amount. WHy?

[DawnC]

Do you have a qualifying dependent on your return?   When you start the Dependent Care interview, is there a drop-down where you can select who the expenses were paid for?    Do you meet all of the requirements below?  

• You (and your spouse, if filing jointly) must have earned income.
  • The earned income requirement for one spouse is waived if they were a full-time student or disabled (if they lived with the other spouse for more than 6 months in 2023).
• You paid caregiving expenses so that you (and your spouse, if filing jointly) could work or look for work.
• You paid a caregiver to care for a Qualifying Person.  
• Your filing status is not Married Filing Separately (except under certain circumstances).
• You can provide the care provider's name, address, and their SSN, ITIN, or EIN on your return (unless it's a tax-exempt organization).

[xmasbaby0]

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 2023 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