You'll need to sign in or create an account to connect with an expert.
Yes, you can count the money you paid your parent to claim the child care credit. You will have to provide the IRS your mother's SS#. Your mother may have to report the income, on her tax return.
Your next question might be: will this affect my mom's SS benefits. No. See https://www.fool.com/retirement/general/2016/05/16/can-you-work-while-receiving-social-security-disa...
How you mother treats the income, depends on where she works, your home or hers. If she works in her own home, her income is self employment and she will definitely have to file a tax return and pay self employment (social security & medicare - FICA) tax, if not actual income tax. If she works in your home, her income is household wages, and not subject to FICA, because she is your parent*. She will not have to file a tax return if the amount is less than $6350.
If your mother is your tax dependent, you are not allowed to claim the child care credit with what you paid her.
*If all of that wasn't complicated enough, your mother is subject to FICA if both of the following apply: (a) your child lives with you and is either under age 18 or has a physical or mental condition that requires the personal care of an adult for at least four continuous weeks in a calendar quarter, and (b) you are divorced and have not remarried, or you are a widow or widower, or you are married to and living with a person whose physical or mental condition prevents him or her from caring for your child for at least 4 continuous weeks in a calendar quarter.
Yes, you can count the money you paid your parent to claim the child care credit. You will have to provide the IRS your mother's SS#. Your mother may have to report the income, on her tax return.
Your next question might be: will this affect my mom's SS benefits. No. See https://www.fool.com/retirement/general/2016/05/16/can-you-work-while-receiving-social-security-disa...
How you mother treats the income, depends on where she works, your home or hers. If she works in her own home, her income is self employment and she will definitely have to file a tax return and pay self employment (social security & medicare - FICA) tax, if not actual income tax. If she works in your home, her income is household wages, and not subject to FICA, because she is your parent*. She will not have to file a tax return if the amount is less than $6350.
If your mother is your tax dependent, you are not allowed to claim the child care credit with what you paid her.
*If all of that wasn't complicated enough, your mother is subject to FICA if both of the following apply: (a) your child lives with you and is either under age 18 or has a physical or mental condition that requires the personal care of an adult for at least four continuous weeks in a calendar quarter, and (b) you are divorced and have not remarried, or you are a widow or widower, or you are married to and living with a person whose physical or mental condition prevents him or her from caring for your child for at least 4 continuous weeks in a calendar quarter.
So what if she doesn’t work. Do she have to file just so that money I paid her gets reported?
Yes. The parents will be claiming the Dependent care credit the mother has to report the income.
She can report it as self employment, if she wants to earn social security benefit. Alternatively, you could be classified as a household employee (since you only worked in their home). There is normally a $1900 limit for a household employee not to be subject to FICA (social security & medicare) tax. But that limit is not applicable to the taxpayer's parent.
Still have questions?
Questions are answered within a few hours on average.
Post a Question*Must create login to post
Ask questions and learn more about your taxes and finances.
teh8
Returning Member
taxuser77
Level 2
dgdyif94
Returning Member
flyingflower
Level 1
GROSS
New Member