For the childcare costs page, the option for both spouses earned income is not listed, only full-time student and disabled, therefore I am unable to claim the costs.

[bmlee1993!]

Under childcare cost deductions, the "Tell Us More About John and Doe" page does provide an opportunity to select if both parents earned an income, though it states in the question that both spouses must have earned income or be either a full-time student or disabled. However, it only allows me to select Was a full-time student, Was disabled, or None of the above, then sets my childcare costs at zero.

[DoninGA · Accepted solution]

Have you entered earned income for both parents?  W-2 income or Self-Employment income?

[Hal_Al · Accepted solution]

The spouse's earned income is identified by TurboTax (TT) thru the entry of the Spouse's W-2 or self employment income (e.g. 1099-NEC). There is not an entry in the dependent care credit (DCC) section, for earned income.

If your spouse's "earned income" is something else, you need to explain that, here, for more specific instructions.

[VolvoGirl · Accepted solution]

Make sure each W2 or 1099NEC is entered for the right spouse.  Go back and double check.   You might need to delete a W2 and enter it again to assign it to the right person.  Or what kind of earned income do you both have?  If you have self employment income on Schedule C you need to have a Net Profit to count as earned income.

Have you entered all your income first?  

[bmlee1993!]

Thank you all very much. This was my issue - I was working ahead to claim costs and had not yet uploaded our W2 forms. Thank you all again.