Why sign in to the Community?

  • Submit a question
  • Check your notifications
Sign in to the Community or Sign in to TurboTax and start working on your taxes
New Member
posted Apr 6, 2025 8:58:49 PM

TT says I don't get the Child & Dependent Care Credit since my $18,200 in childcare expenses wasn't enough to use up my $5,000 contribution. This makes no sense, 18>5

Verbatim Text: Why don't I have a Child and Dependent Care Credit? Since your $18,200 in care expenses wasn't enough to use up the $5,000 you contributed to your employer's dependent care plan, your Child and Dependent Care Credit is $0. The $2,000 of unspent care benefits will be added to your W-2 as taxable income.

0 2 1715
2 Replies
Expert Alumni
Apr 7, 2025 6:20:30 AM

How many children do you have in childcare?

 

For one child, the max amount of work-related expenses you can claim for the credit is $3,000 and this amount has to be reduced by any tax free dependent care benefits that you received. Since you had $5,000 in benefits, you wouldn't qualify for the credit for just one child.

 

For more than one child, the max amount of work-related expenses you can clam is $6,000 and this also has to be reduced by tax free dependent care benefits. In this case, you should qualify for a credit based on $1,000 of qualified expenses.

 

If you'd like, we can look at your return and see exactly what you see to help come to a resolution. The return will be scrubbed and won't include any of your personal details.

 

If you're using TurboTax Online:

Once you're logged in to your account and have your amended return open,

- on the left hand panel, click on Tax Tools and then choose Tools

- on the pop up window, select Share my file with Agent

- you'll see a message saying you'll give us a copy of your tax return. Your personal information will be changed so we can't see any private information.

- click okay and you'll get another message with a token

 

If you're using TurboTax Desktop:

  • Click on Online in the top menu of TurboTax Desktop for Windows
  • Select 'Send Tax File to Agent'
  • Write down or send an image of your token number and state then place in this issue.
  • We can then review your exact scenario for a solution

 

Please reply to this message with your token so that we can further assist you. Let us know all other states that are included on the return.

New Member
Apr 14, 2025 6:37:11 PM

Thanks, I have one child so that makes sense. TurboTax should probably be updated to explain that better.