Is anyone who is filing head of household, single, and a college student, not getting the dependent care credit?

[ciarramartin14]

I paid over $10k in child care to go to school/my graduate assistantship and I'm not getting any dependent care credit.

[xmasbaby0]

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

[hbl3973]

ciarramartin14,

IRS Publication 503 (https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p503.pdf) details the requirements for the Child and Dependent Care credit.  Unlike 2021, it is not a refundable credit so if your taxable income is zero (AGI minus $19,400 standard deduction) you would get no benefit.  (Yes this feels crazy to me, too.)  Also, you cannot deduct more than $3,000 of your $10,000 expenses to get that credit.  (There is a related limit that applies to employer provided dependent care plan.)  Sigh ...

[Vanessa A]

Did you have earned income?  Do you have a tax liability on line 18 of your 1040?  Was your child under 13?

The Child and Dependent credit is a non refundable credit so if you are seeing that you do not qualify, it could be that you do not have earned income or a tax liability.  If you do not have a tax liability, you will not see a benefit from the credit. 

You can see your tax liability on line 16.  You may also have other non refundable credits that already reduced your tax liability which would again keep you from getting the Dependent Care Credit.

If you did have earned income and have a tax liability to be offset by the credit, you will need to walk back through your personal info section and make sure you correctly answered all of the questions about your child. If your child is not under 13 (unless disabled) they would not qualify for the credit. 

To see your 1040 select the following:  Tools>>Tax Tools>>View Tax Summary>>Preview My 1040