How to complete form 2441

[LinaJ2018 · Accepted solution]

To enter your childcare information and file a Form 2441 in TurboTax Deluxe online program, go to:

• Sign in to your account and select Pick up where you left off
• At the right upper corner, in the search box, type in childcare and Enter
• Select  Jump to childcare
• Follow prompts

[Edited 4/6/2020 | 7:07 PM]

[priyanarthakii]

I tried to follow your instructions but when I get to that screen it doesnt ask me to enter the provider’s information. All I get is a question about if we were disabled or full time students. When I answer no to those it just kicks me out. When I try to manually enter the info into the forms page it has no edibility for those sections. I don’t understand how to fill this info out because we qualify. 

[bhavesh7098]

Hi,

I have same thing. Did you find any solutions?

[AmyC]

Be sure to enter all W2 income before entering child care expenses.

If you are answering questions and being kicked out, you do not qualify. If you did not have employment income but are disabled or a student, you must fil that information in. If a parent did not work and was neither a student nor disabled, there is no child care credit. 

Please see full details of requirements for the caregiver information, expenses, ages, etc at What is the Child and Dependent Care Credit?

[Johyn]

I am self-employed as my husband too, but I am also work and I entered my W2 and I got the same error.  It asked me for disability or full term student.  We pay a daycare for my son why it gave it error if we meet the requirements of both parents work?

[xmasbaby0]

@Johyn

You will not get the childcare credit until (unless) you enter income earned from working.   The credit does not work unless you enter your income first.   If you are filing a joint return you must show income for both spouses, or show that one or both of you was a student or disabled.   If you have self-employment income and show a loss you will not get the childcare credit.  You will not get the credit if you are filing married filing separately.  

If you have entered all of your income and you have entered your dependent(s) then work on the childcare credit by entering the Tax ID or Social Security number of your childcare provider and enter the amount you paid for the childcare.

One of the most common mistakes that messes up the childcare credit for people is listing all of the earned income under only one name on a joint return.  Make very sure that your incomes are listed under each of your names.  It’s pretty easy to check.  Go to the Income section, and click “update” on Wages and Salary.  That will take you to the W-2 Summary.  Do you see income listed under both of your names? 

 The person receiving the care had to be 12 or under or qualified as mentally or physically disabled. To claim the childcare credit you need to be filing as Head of Household or Married Filing Jointly. (NOT married filing separately)

 If your child was born in 2022 make sure you say the child lived with you all year. The credit is a percentage of your expenses based on your AGI (the higher the income, the lower the percentage)  You must provide the Social Security number for each child you are claiming, and the Social Security number or Tax ID for each care provider. 

In the case of divorced or never-married parents—only the custodial parent can use the childcare credit.

And remember that the childcare credit is a NON-refundable credit.  It can reduce your tax owed down to zero, but it is not added to your refund.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1900643-what-is-the-child-and-dependent-care-credit