turbotax icon
cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 
turbotax icon
cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 
Announcements
Close icon
Do you have a TurboTax Online account?

We'll help you get started or pick up where you left off.

bennettoz
New Member

Can my wife claim child care expenses while filing married separately?

By Wife and I still live together. However, we are filing Married Separately. My wife is claiming our child as she made less money than I did last year. How does she claim the Child Care expenses? We both contributed $1,482 towards child care expenses last year.

x
Do you have an Intuit account?

Do you have an Intuit account?

You'll need to sign in or create an account to connect with an expert.

1 Best answer

Accepted Solutions
Coleen3
Intuit Alumni

Can my wife claim child care expenses while filing married separately?

No.

Topic Number 602 - Child and Dependent Care Credit

You may be able to claim the child and dependent care credit if you paid expenses for the care of a qualifying individual to enable you (and your spouse, if filing a joint return) to work or actively look for work. You may not take this credit if your filing status is married filing separately. The amount of the credit is a percentage of the amount of work-related expenses you paid to a care provider for the care of a qualifying individual. The percentage depends on your adjusted gross income.

View solution in original post

3 Replies
Coleen3
Intuit Alumni

Can my wife claim child care expenses while filing married separately?

No.

Topic Number 602 - Child and Dependent Care Credit

You may be able to claim the child and dependent care credit if you paid expenses for the care of a qualifying individual to enable you (and your spouse, if filing a joint return) to work or actively look for work. You may not take this credit if your filing status is married filing separately. The amount of the credit is a percentage of the amount of work-related expenses you paid to a care provider for the care of a qualifying individual. The percentage depends on your adjusted gross income.

bennettoz
New Member

Can my wife claim child care expenses while filing married separately?

What's the purpose of not allowing this tax deduction. Just because we are going to file separately doesn't mean we didn't have to pay someone else to watch our child while we worked.
Coleen3
Intuit Alumni

Can my wife claim child care expenses while filing married separately?

Yes, but you have to think the way the IRS does. Their automatic assumption is that you are filing separately to reduce income and make tax benefits more advantageous. Whether you are or not, the rules treat you more severely. There are many disadvantages to filing separately. If you were not living together the last 6 months of 2017, the rules are different.
message box icon

Get more help

Ask questions and learn more about your taxes and finances.

Post your Question