Child Care Expenses

Any unused Child Tax Credit cannot be carried forward to future years.
The credit begins its phase-out at Adjusted Gross Income of $110,000 for married taxpayers filing joint returns.
For single taxpayers or those filing as head of household the threshold is $75,000.
For married filing separate returns the threshold is $55,000.

Household employers must file IRS Schedule H to pay the social security and federal unemployment tax and any withheld federal income taxes.
A household employer is not required to withhold federal income tax from a household employee's wages.
Federal income tax withholding occurs if the employee requests and the employer agrees. Household employees include baby sitters, nannies, housekeepers, drivers, caretakers, health aids, private nurses, maids, gardeners, and others who work in or around your private residence as your employees.
Household workers who are under age 18 during any part of the calendar year are exempt from the FICA tax for the entire year even if the wages exceed $1,800 if the household employment is not their principal occupation. A full time student is considered a full time occupation. Workers you get from an agency are not your employees if the agency is responsible for who does the work and how it is done. Self-employed workers are not considered your employees. In the current year, if you paid a household employee cash wages of $1,800 or more in a calendar year, you generally must withhold social security and Medicare taxes from all cash wages you pay to that employee.

Your dependent care flexible spending account reimbursement does reduce your maximum child care base expense amounts of $3,000 or $6,000 (2 or more children) claimed on IRS Form 2441.

Your child care credit like the other nonrefundable credits can be limited by your "Tentative" Minimum tax not your "Actual" Minimum tax.
Both the Tentative and Actual Minimum tax amounts are reflected on IRS Form 6251.
If you do not understand why your child care credit is being disallowed or limited, speak to your local CPA for an explanation.

Under the law, Federal and State agencies transfer to the IRS the names and Social Security numbers of taxpayers who owe amounts due to child support, loans or taxes.
Your tax refund may be withheld if you are delinquent in child support payments or owe on a student loan.

If you pay someone to watch your child(ren)under age 13 to enable you (and your spouse if you are filing a joint tax return)to work, then you will be able to claim a Child Care Credit for the costs you pay subject to certain limitations on Form 2441.
You will have to supply to the IRS on Form 2441 the care provider's name, address and social security or EIN number.

Tuition paid for a child in first grade or higher cannot be used as a child care credit or a deduction on your tax return.

The amount you pay for nursery school or day-care that enables you (and your spouse on a joint tax return) to earn income can be used to calculate a Child Care Tax credit.

No. If you claim a relative as a dependent on your tax return, you may not claim a deduction or a child care tax credit for the payments made.