When I try to enter this year's Dependent Care Credit, the program just goes in circles and does not ask or or enter my info. Is this a known bug?

[rjs]

No, it's not a known bug. What exactly does "goes in circles" mean? What screen are you on when you have the problem? (What is the exact heading or title on the screen?) What do you enter on that screen? What do you click on? What do you see after you click? If "goes in circles" means that it is repeatedly going through the same series of screens, what are the screens that it goes through?

The tag below your question indicates that you are using TurboTax Online Deluxe. Is that true?

[etneal26]

Yes, I am using Deluxe. It means when I am in Deductions and Other Tax Credits, and I attempt to Edit/Add a dependent child care credit for this year, it asks if I paid in 2022 (yes), then asks if my child lived with me plus 3 other checkboxes (yes they did), then it just takes me back to the original Deductions and Other Tax Credits page. Especially infuriating because I claimed this with not problem last year. This year I am filing Married, Filing Separately. 

I found another forum user who was having similar issues. https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-credits-deductions/discussion/turbotax-won-t-let-me-enter-chil...

I cleared my cookies, and check my income. Just me. Estranged husband will need to file separately. I'm at a loss. 

[DoninGA]

From IRS Publication 503, Child and Dependent Care Expenses - https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p503.pdf

Is this your status? -

Generally, married couples must file a joint return to take the credit. However, if you are legally separated or living apart from your spouse, you may be able to file a separate return and still take the credit.
Legally separated. You aren't considered married if you are legally separated from your spouse under a decree of divorce or separate maintenance. You may be eligible to take the credit on your return using head of household filing status.
Married and living apart. You aren't considered married and are eligible to take the credit if all the following apply.
1. You file a return apart from your spouse.
2. Your home is the home of a qualifying person for more than half the year.
3. You pay more than half the cost of keeping up your home for the year.
4. Your spouse doesn't live in your home for the last 6 months of the year

[etneal26]

We were married last year. I filed for divorce early this year. I have a restraining order. I obviously do not have his W2. Does this mean I just lose out on child care costs I paid?

[rjs]

Is "last year" 2022 and is "this year" 2023? What happens in 2023 does not affect your 2022 tax return. If you were still legally married at the end of 2022, and you and your husband lived together for any part of the last 6 months of 2022, then you cannot claim the Child and Dependent Care Credit. Also, you cannot file as head of household. You have to file as married filing separately or married filing jointly. A restraining order is not a legal separation, and estrangement is not a legal separation.

The usual recommendation would be to try to cooperate to file jointly for 2022, even if you have to work through your lawyers to do it. But it sounds like your relationship is contentious, so that might not be possible in your case.

[xmasbaby0]

Have you entered income from working yet?   The dependent care credit will not work unless you have already entered income you earned by working.   Some users get ahead of themselves and start working on credits before they enter income--and that credit will not work if you do not have income from working.

[xmasbaby0]

Oh----more information posted while  I was typing.   If you are filing married filing separately, then you cannot get the childcare credit.   If you lived apart from your spouse for at least the last six months of the tax year and were the custodial parent, then you may be able to file as Head of Household and use the childcare credit.

Am I Head of Household?

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1894553-do-i-qualify-for-head-of-household

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2900097-what-is-a-qualifying-person-for-head-of-household

If you qualify as Head of Household, when you enter your marital status (single or married filing separately) into MyInfo, and then enter your qualifying dependent, TurboTax will offer HOH as your filing status.