Online/virtual Preschool

[Angelicabreanne]

Does preschool count toward child/dependent care credits if the child attends online? It is so the parent can work but the preschool classes are online.  I can’t find any info for virtual preschool expenses. 

[DaveF1006]

Technically no. Typically, preschool expenses were only counted toward a child and dependent care credit and not a education credit or expense. Since at least if one or both parents were home while your child attended online preschool sessions, then you would not be eligible to claim the child and dependent care credit. However, you would have if you were able to physically take them to the preschool facility.

[Angelicabreanne]

So if the parent works from inside the home it doesn’t count toward the credit because they aren’t physically going to a building other than their primary home for their preschool classes? 

[DaveF1006]

That is correct because you are home with the child.

[Opus 17]

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@Angelicabreanne wrote:

So if the parent works from inside the home it doesn’t count toward the credit because they aren’t physically going to a building other than their primary home for their preschool classes? 

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You can claim the credit if care is provided so you can work, even if the care is in your home and you work from home.  But they key word is care.  Care means seeing to the protection, well-being and safety of the child.  Any other purpose (food, education) is not eligible unless it is an inseparable part of the care.  Virtual preschool does not provide protection, safety or well-being to the child.  You are still there to see to those needs; food, bathroom, stopping them from eating paste or sticking a fork into an electric socket.  So virtual preschool is not care.

The credit was never meant for preschool education.  It was meant to provide care, so you could work and not worry about the safety of your child.