why dont I quality for child and dependent care credit

We are unable to see your return in the community.  However, one of the most common reasons people are unable to claim the child and dependent credit is because they did not yet enter their earned income or they did not assign a W-2 to both spouses.  In order to claim the Child and Dependent Credit you and your spouse if married must generally have earned income unless one person is a student.  Then you would need to check the box that says full time student. 

In order to claim the Child and Dependent Care Credit you also must meet the following:

• You must file a joint return if married
• It is a nonrefundable credit so you must have a tax liability in order to benefit from the credit.  If you are already getting a full refund of your taxes paid in, you would not get the child and dependent care credit.
• You must have paid for child care to someone other than your spouse, the child's other parent or someone claimed as a dependent on your return.
• The expenses must be for one of the following:
  • Your qualifying child under the age of 13 
  • Your disabled Spouse
  • Any other person you claim or could claim on your tax return as a dependent that is disabled and not able to care for his or herself. 

If you meet all of the above, be sure you enter your W2 prior to going to the Child and Dependent Care Credit.

The Ins and Outs of the Child and Dependent Care Credit

Thank you! Yes my spouse did not work in 2024. But she was actively looking for a job. Wouldn't that be enough to qualify for a credit if we are Married filing jointly? I paid for my 4 year-old's child care to someone other than my spouse.

It says in order to qualify, I must meet this criteria:You paid caregiving expenses so that you (and your spouse, if filing jointly) could work or look for work.

Thanks

It does include actively looking for work.  However, if you do not find a job and have no earned income for the year, you cannot take this credit.  See Q&A #17 - IRS - Child and Dependent Care Credit.    If your spouse is a student or unable to care for herself, she is credited $250 or $500 of earned income for the credit - per month.