Because of the rising cost of living, the grand majority of modern families have two working parents who earn two separate incomes. Due to this situation, children are often taken care of during the day by someone other than their parents. When parents have to pay their taxes, the government is wiling to reward parents who have pay for someone else to care for their kids.

Regardless of whether it is by means of a day care center, a family member, a close friend, or a hired nanny, the price of child care is anything but cheap. The child and dependent care credit, however, allows parents and guardians of children to receive money back from the government based on the money they have spent on child care throughout the year.

Parents and legal guardians of children that have had to pay for a child care under the age of thirteen can apply for the child care credit. In order to use a child as a means for application the child must live with you for a minimum of six months of the year.

Only children who are claimed as dependents and tax exemptions on your federal tax returns can be used to apply for the child care credit. In the case of couples with children who are now divorced or no longer living in the same home, only the parent who lives in the child’s primary resident is permitted to claim the tax credit.

Child care credit can not be claimed for private school tuition. This falls in the category of educational concerns and can be deducted there. But, if the child attends after school care at the school, a portion of that expense can be applied to the child care credit.

Dependent care spending accounts are not against the rules when applying for the child care credit. One thing that is often misunderstood is how the money in a dependent care spending account is reported on the tax forms. This money is used to pay child care bills, but it is done on a tax-free basis. As such, it cannot be applied to the child care credit.

Parents who are in this situation can still claim the child tax credit, but not a dependent care credit. Any expenses over and above the amount that was set aside in the dependent care plan are eligible for the child care credit. The credit received can be anywhere from twenty to thirty-five percent of the total amount of money spent on child care.

The child care credit is a good thing for those parents who have struggled to keep their children in day care. They can claim a child tax credit and also the child care credit for the money they put into their children’s care.

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