When I try and add information for my child care deduction, it only asks me two questions and then stars me back again. Then it says $0. How do I add the daycare costs

[kostiguy16]

I went through all the prompts and questions a million times and made sure I didn’t answer a question wrong. Still when I go to the credit/deductions section and try and add the child care info it never prompts out. It asks about my residency and if I cared for a dependent who lived with me and thats it. No other questions or a spot to upload how much I paid in daycare or any related documents. What am I doing wrong and how do I fix it??

[BillM223 · Accepted solution]

On the screen "Whose care did you pay for?", who did you indicate? If it was one of your children, how old was the child?

Once you indicate who the dependent is that you paid for Care for, you will (eventually) see the screen "How much did you pay for [name]'s care in 2021?"

If that doesn't work for you, tell us

1. the name of the dependent (X would be fine)

2. the age of the dependent

3. The relation of the dependent to you

4. the answers to any other questions you see, like "Did X pay for more than half of is living expenses?"

[kostiguy16]

I cant seem to get to the “whose care did you pay for” screen. I definitely answered the questions in a way that would suggest I paid for child care but for some reason when it should send me to that page next, it sends me back to the main credits and deductions page and that is when the $0 next to the childcare credit populates. Its like im skipping questions, but they never ask me them. Ill keep messing with it and if not ill have to pay someone to do my taxes. Thank you for your help!

[JillS56]

I will walk through the steps here to see if I can help you get to the screen you are looking for.  Follow these steps:

1. Sign in to TurboTax and open your return
2. Go to the Federal section and click on Deductions and Credits
3. Scroll Down to You and Your Family and click on the Start or Update button next to Child and Dependent Care Credit
4. On the next screen Child and Dependent Care click on Yes
5. On the next screen if you are filing MFJ answer the question.  The answer needs to be Yes.  If your spouse did not work, you would not be able to get the child and dependent care credit.  Both the taxpayer and the spouse have to have earned income or be a full-time student in order to get the child dependent care credit.
6. On the next page if any of the two options is true for the taxpayer or the spouse, then check the box.  If not, then check the "None of these apply" box.
7. If you check a box for either the taxpayer or the spouse, you will get a screen that asks about how many months the person was a full-time student or disabled.  Enter the number of months if this applies.   NOTE: You will not get this screen if you entered None of these Apply.
8. The next screen you will get is to add the expense for the child dependent care.  Click on Add an expense
9. On the next screen select the dependent who had the child dependent care expenses and click Continue
10. On the next screen enter the amount of dependent care expense and click Continue
11. The next screen will look like this 
12. 
13. Click Done
14. On the next screen is when you enter the provider information and click on Continue
15. Click Continue on the next screen and then click Done
16. Then just answer the rest of the questions 
17. You will receive a summary page telling you what your child dependent care credit 

These steps are from the TurboTax desktop version but the online version should be very similar to the desktop.  

[SweetieJean]

Have you entered your income first?

[kostiguy16]

Thank you for the breakdown! When I chose the “The person(s) whose care I paid for lived with me for more than half of 2021” box and hit next, it brings me straight back to the main deductions page. I answered yes to the two questions before that one as well. If it makes a difference I am married filing separately. My husband works full time as well but that was never a questions they asked me, so could that be why? Im so stuck here I may just pay the $200+ to have someone file for me at this point.

[kostiguy16]

Yes income was the first thing I added

[LenaH]

Generally, married couples must file a joint return to take the credit. However, if you are legally separated or living apart from your spouse, you may be able to file a separate return and still take the credit.

Legally separated: 

You aren't considered married if you are legally separated from your spouse under a decree of divorce or separate maintenance. You may be eligible to take the credit on your return using head of household filing status.

Married and living apart:

You aren't considered married and are eligible to take the credit if all the following apply.

• You file a return apart from your spouse.
• Your home is the home of a qualifying person for more than half the year.
• You pay more than half the cost of keeping up your home for the year.
• Your spouse doesn't live in your home for the last 6 months of the year.

@kostiguy16

[TKS22]

I am having the same issue trying to enter the cost of childcare for the year.  Any other suggestions as to how to get the rest of the questions answered?

[LindaS5247]

If you're not in your return already, sign in to TurboTax and select either Review/Edit or Pick up where you left off under Deductions & Credits. Select Search from the top menu, type in child care credit, and select the Jump to link that appears above the search results. Answer the questions to complete the section.

Or you can enter your childcare information as follows for the Child Care Deduction:
 

1. Click the Federal Taxes tab (Personal tab if using the Home & Business version)
2. Select Deductions & Credits 
3. Select I'll choose what I work on
4. Scroll down to You and Your family
    
5. Select the Update button to the right of Child and Dependent Care
6. Click Yes and continue to the Care Provider Summary screen, then click Edit

Click here for how to get the childcare credit in TurboTax.