Why is Dependent Care Credit not listed in refund summary? The IRS says it is refundable for 2021. (https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/child-and-dependent-care-credit-faqs)

gilmelanthony · ‎January 28, 2022

I've seen community answers suggesting that the Dependent Care Credit is not refundable, and will only reduce the tax liability to zero. But that seems to contradict the IRS statements in the link above. See "Claiming the Credit: Q10" in linked webpage above.

gilmelanthony · ‎January 31, 2022

Hi @MayaD I can confirm we have answered Yes for both Married filing jointly, as well as the principal place of residence being in the US.

But I think I have figured this out. I removed the Dependent care credit and compared the refund summary. And the difference is that the system was not counting the Dependent Care Credit as a line item under credits. Rather it appears to have applied the credit as a reduction to our overall tax liability, not as a separate line item so there is no note of it being included in the summary. But I know it was added because the reduction amount matches the amount of the credit from the Deductions & Credits form.

This credit is hard to identify in the refund summary unless you do a before and after comparison when adding this credit. Easy to miss.

But I can confirm it is being counted, just not where I expected to find it.

Thanks!

View solution in original post

Bsch4477 · ‎January 28, 2022

New in 2021, dependent care credit is refundable.

MayaD · ‎January 28, 2022

Is your filing status Married Filing Separate?

Per IRS

If you are married, you must file a joint return to claim the credit. irs.gov

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gilmelanthony · ‎January 28, 2022

Thank you @MayaD for the reply.

Yes, we are married and filing as "Married Filing Jointly".

I can see the credit in the "Deductions&Credits" section, but it is absent from the refund summary. Am I right to assume that the TurboTax system is treating this credit as "non-refundable"?

Appreciate the assist. Thanks!

MayaD · ‎January 28, 2022

Please confirm that you answered Yes to the question "Did you or your spouse have a principal place of residence in the U.S for more than half of 2021?" in the Child and Dependent Care Credit section.

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gilmelanthony · ‎January 28, 2022

Confirming that we did answer "Yes" to the question: "Did you or your spouse have a principal place of residence in the U.S for more than half of 2021?"

Thanks.

gilmelanthony · ‎January 31, 2022

Hi @MayaD I can confirm we have answered Yes for both Married filing jointly, as well as the principal place of residence being in the US.

But I think I have figured this out. I removed the Dependent care credit and compared the refund summary. And the difference is that the system was not counting the Dependent Care Credit as a line item under credits. Rather it appears to have applied the credit as a reduction to our overall tax liability, not as a separate line item so there is no note of it being included in the summary. But I know it was added because the reduction amount matches the amount of the credit from the Deductions & Credits form.

This credit is hard to identify in the refund summary unless you do a before and after comparison when adding this credit. Easy to miss.

But I can confirm it is being counted, just not where I expected to find it.

Thanks!

VolvoGirl · ‎January 31, 2022

For 2021 Child Care Credit

The non refundable portion is on Schedule 3 line 2 which goes to 1040 line 20.

The Refundable portion is on Schedule 3 line 13G which goes to 1040 line 31.

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Why is Dependent Care Credit not listed in refund summary? The IRS says it is refundable for 2021. (https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/child-and-dependent-care-credit-faqs)