When claiming 2 kids daycare expenses do I split the amount up amongst the kids?

[MargaretL · Accepted solution]

Yes, you can split the amount. 

In figuring out the child care credit, the limitation on expenses is $3,000 for one child and $6,000 for more than one child. If you have more than one qualifying child (usually child under 13), but only one child has care expenses, the IRS says it’s OK to add another qualifying child without expenses. This increases the expense limitation to $6,000.

[Knohria]

If in my situation, I have daycare expenses of around $8k for my elder daughter, but the younger one is just a few months old and does not have any daycare expenses. Can I claim child tax credit using limit of $6k (since I have 2 dependent children, it is $3k for one dependent), even though the expenses are in the name of just one dependent?

[BillM223]

Yes, if you have two kids who are eligible for day care expenses, you can use the $6k limit on the 2441 even if the second child had no expenses. Seems odd, but it's allowed.

Just add the second child along with the first one.