Why cant i claim child care expenses

[geebee0513]

 Your taxable income is $0 because your adjusted gross income of $xxxxxis less than your $xxxxxxx of total deductions and your $xxxxx of total exemptions combined.

It also explains below

Your effective tax rate is -5.98%. This percentage is based off your regular income tax (not including any self employment tax), minus certain credits, divided by your adjusted gross income.

Since your credits add up to more than your tax for the year, you have a negative effective tax rate.

Can someone explain this please? I have custody and the EIN numbers to claim the credit

[xmasbaby0 · Accepted solution]

The childcare credit is not a refund.  It can reduce the amount of tax you owe.  Since you do not owe anything, the childcare credit does not benefit you.