Publication 503 (2019), Child and Dependent Care Expenses
For use in preparing 2019 Returns
Future developments. For the latest information about developments related to Pub. 503, such as legislation enacted after it was published, go to IRS.gov/Pub503.
Forms 1040A and 1040-EZ are no longer available. Forms 1040A and 1040-EZ aren’t available to file your 2019 taxes. If you used one of those forms in the past, you will now file Form 1040 or 1040-SR. Most forms and publications have been updated to reflect this change, but please disregard any references to Form 1040A or Form 1040-EZ that were already in use when this change was made, for example Form W‐2.
Personal exemption suspended. For 2019, you can’t claim a personal exemption for yourself, your spouse, or your dependents.
Taxpayer identification number needed for each qualifying person. You must include on line 2 of Form 2441, Child and Dependent Care Expenses, the name and taxpayer identification number (generally, the social security number) of each qualifying person. See Taxpayer identification number under Who Is a Qualifying Person, later.
You may have to pay employment taxes. If you pay someone to come to your home and care for your dependent or spouse, you may be a household employer who has to pay employment taxes. Usually, you aren’t a household employer if the person who cares for your dependent or spouse does so at his or her home or place of business. See Do You Have Household Employees, later.
Photographs of missing children. The IRS is a proud partner with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® (NCMEC). Photographs of missing children selected by the Center may appear in this publication on pages that would otherwise be blank. You can help bring these children home by looking at the photographs and calling 800-THE-LOST (800-843-5678) if you recognize a child.
This publication explains the tests you must meet to claim the credit for child and dependent care expenses. It explains how to figure and claim the credit.
You may be able to claim the credit if you pay someone to care for your dependent who is under age 13 or for your spouse or dependent who isn’t able to care for himself or herself. The credit can be up to 35% of your expenses. To qualify, you must pay these expenses so you can work or look for work.
This publication also discusses some of the employment tax rules for household employers.
Dependent care benefits.
If you received any dependent care benefits from your employer during the year, you may be able to exclude all or part of them from your income. You must complete Form 2441, Part III, before you can figure the amount of your credit. See Dependent Care Benefits under How To Figure the Credit, later.
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Publication
501 Dependents, Standard Deduction, and Filing Information
926 Household Employer’s Tax Guide
Form (and Instructions)
2441 Child and Dependent Care Expenses
Schedule H (Form 1040 or 1040-SR) Household Employment Taxes
W-10 Dependent Care Provider’s Identification and Certification
See How To Get Tax Help near the end of this publication for information about getting these publications and forms.
To be able to claim the credit for child and dependent care expenses, you must file Form 1040, 1040-SR, or 1040-NR, not Form 1040-NR-EZ, and meet all the tests in Tests you must meet to claim a credit for child and dependent care expenses next.
Tests you must meet to claim a credit for child and dependent care expenses.
To be able to claim the credit for child and dependent care expenses, you must meet all the following tests.
Qualifying Person Test. The care must be for one or more qualifying persons who are identified on Form 2441. (See Who Is a Qualifying Person , later)
Earned Income Test. You (and your spouse if filing jointly) must have earned income during the year. (However, see Rule for student-spouse or spouse not able to care for self under You Must Have Earned Income, later.)
Work-Related Expense Test. You must pay child and dependent care expenses so you (and your spouse if filing jointly) can work or look for work. (See Are These Work-Related Expenses, later.)
You must make payments for child and dependent care to someone you (and your spouse) can’t claim as a dependent. If you make payments to your child, he or she can’t be your dependent and must be age 19 or older by the end of the year. You can’t make payments to:
Your spouse, or
The parent of your qualifying person if your qualifying person is your child and under age 13.
See Payments to Relatives or Dependents under Are These Work-Related Expenses, later.
Joint Return Test. Your filing status may be single, head of household, or qualifying widow(er) with dependent child. If you are married, you must file a joint return, unless an exception applies to you. See What’s Your Filing Status, later.
Provider Identification Test. You must identify the care provider on your tax return. (See Care Provider Identification Test, later.)
If you exclude or deduct dependent care benefits provided by a dependent care benefit plan, the total amount you exclude or deduct must be less than the dollar limit for qualifying expenses (generally, $3,000 if one qualifying person was cared for or $6,000 if two or more qualifying persons were cared for). (If two or more qualifying persons were cared for, the amount you exclude or deduct will always be less than the dollar limit because the total amount you can exclude or deduct is limited to $5,000. See Reduced Dollar Limit under How To Figure the Credit, later.)
These tests are presented in Figure A and are also explained in detail in this publication.
Your child and dependent care expenses must be for the care of one or more qualifying persons.
A qualifying person is:
Your qualifying child who is your dependent and who was under age 13 when the care was provided (but see Child of divorced or separated parents or parents living apart , later);
Your spouse who wasn’t physically or mentally able to care for himself or herself and lived with you for more than half the year; or
A person who wasn’t physically or mentally able to care for himself or herself, lived with you for more than half the year, and either:
Was your dependent, or
Would have been your dependent except that:
He or she received gross income of $4,200 or more,
He or she filed a joint return, or
You, or your spouse if filing jointly, could be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s 2019 return.
Dependent defined.
A dependent is a person, other than you or your spouse, for whom you could claim an exemption. To be your dependent, a person must be your qualifying child (or your qualifying relative). However, the deductions for personal and dependency exemptions for tax years 2018 through 2025 are suspended, and therefore, the amount of the deduction is zero. But in determining whether you may claim a person as a qualifying relative for 2019, the person’s gross income must be less than $4,200, not zero.
Qualifying child.
To be your qualifying child, a child must live with you for more than half the year and meet other requirements.
More information.
For more information about who is a dependent or a qualifying child, see Pub. 501.
Physically or mentally not able to care for oneself.
Persons who can’t dress, clean, or feed themselves because of physical or mental problems are considered not able to care for themselves. Also, persons who must have constant attention to prevent them from injuring themselves or others are considered not able to care for themselves.
Person qualifying for part of year.
You determine a person’s qualifying status each day. For example, if the person for whom you pay child and dependent care expenses no longer qualifies on September 16, count only those expenses through September 15. Also see Yearly limit under Dollar Limit, later.
Birth or death of otherwise qualifying person.
In determining whether a person is a qualifying person, a person who was born or died in 2019 is treated as having lived with you for more than half of 2019 if your home was the person’s home more than half the time he or she was alive in 2019.
Taxpayer identification number.
You must include on your return the name and taxpayer identification number (generally, the social security number) of the qualifying person(s). If the correct information isn’t shown, the credit may be reduced or disallowed.
Individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) for aliens.
If your qualifying person is a nonresident or resident alien who doesn’t have and can’t get a social security number (SSN), use that person’s ITIN. The ITIN is entered wherever an SSN is requested on a tax return. If the alien doesn’t have an ITIN, he or she must apply for one. See Form W-7, Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, for details.
An ITIN is for tax use only. It doesn’t entitle the holder to social security benefits or change the holder’s employment or immigration status under U.S. law.
All ITINs not used on a federal tax return at least once for tax years 2016, 2017, or 2018 will expire on December 31, 2019. Additionally, all ITINs with middle digits (the fourth and fifth positions) of 83, 84, 85, 86, or 87 will expire at the end of 2019. ITINs issued with middle digits of 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, or 82 are expired unless a renewal application was already submitted and it was approved. All expired ITINs must be renewed before being used on your tax return. See IRS.gov for more information.
Adoption taxpayer identification number (ATIN).
If your qualifying person is a child who was placed in your home for adoption and for whom you don’t have an SSN, you must get an ATIN for the child. File Form W-7A, Application for Taxpayer Identification Number for Pending U.S. Adoptions.
Child of divorced or separated parents or parents living apart.
Even if you can’t claim your child as a dependent, he or she is treated as your qualifying person if:
The child was under age 13 or wasn’t physically or mentally able to care for himself or herself;
The child received over half of his or her support during the calendar year from one or both parents who are divorced or legally separated under a decree of divorce or separate maintenance, are separated under a written separation agreement, or lived apart at all times during the last 6 months of the calendar year;
The child was in the custody of one or both parents for more than half the year; and
You were the child’s custodial parent.
The custodial parent is the parent with whom the child lived for the greater number of nights in 2019. If the child was with each parent for an equal number of nights, the custodial parent is the parent with the higher adjusted gross income. For details and an exception for a parent who works at night, see Pub. 501.
The noncustodial parent can’t treat the child as a qualifying person even if that parent is entitled to claim the child as a dependent under the special rules for a child of divorced or separated parents.
Figure a. Can you claim the credit
Figure A. Can You Claim the Credit?
Summary: This is a flowchart used to determine if the taxpayer can claim the child and dependent care credit.
Start
This is the start of the flowchart.
Decision (1)
Was the care for one or more qualifying persons?
Decision (2)
Did you (see Footnote 1) have earned income during the year?
Footnote 1: This also applies to your spouse, unless your spouse was disabled or a full-time student.
Decision (3)
Did you pay the expenses to allow you (see Footnote 1) to work or look for work?
Footnote 1: This also applies to your spouse, unless your spouse was disabled or a full-time student.
Decision (4)
Were your payments made to someone you or your spouse could claim as a dependent?
Decision (5)
Were your payments made to your spouse or to the parent of your qualifying person who is your qualifying child and under age 13?
Decision (6)
Were your payments made to your child who was under the age of 19 at the end of the year?
Decision (7)
Are you single?
Decision (8)
Are you filing a joint return?
Decision (9)
Do you meet the requirements to be considered unmarried?
Decision (10)
Do you know the care provider’s name, address, and identifying number?
Decision (11)
Did you make a reasonable effort to get this information? (See Due diligence.)
Decision (12)
Did you pay expenses for more than one qualifying person?
Decision (13)
Are you excluding or deducting at least $3,000 of dependent care benefits?
Process (a)
You CAN’T claim the child and dependent care credit. (See Footnote 2.)
Footnote 2: If you had expenses that met the requirements for 2018, except that you didn’t pay them until 2018, you may be able to claim those expenses in 2018. See Expenses not paid until the following year under How To Figure the Credit.
Process (b)
You may be able to claim the child and dependent care credit. Fill out Form 2441.
End
This is the end of the flowchart.
Please click here for the text description of the image.
To claim the credit, you (and your spouse if filing jointly) must have earned income during the year.
Earned income.
Earned income includes wages, salaries, tips, other taxable employee compensation, and net earnings from self-employment. A net loss from self-employment reduces earned income. Earned income also includes strike benefits and any disability pay you report as wages.
Generally, only taxable compensation is included. For example, foreign earned income you exclude from income isn’t included. However, you can elect to include nontaxable combat pay in earned income. If you are filing a joint return and both you and your spouse received nontaxable combat pay, you can each make your own election. (In other words, if one of you makes the election, the other one can also make it but doesn’t have to.) Including this income will give you a larger credit only if your (or your spouse’s) other earned income is less than the amount entered on line 3 of Form 2441. You should figure your credit both ways and make the election if it gives you a greater tax benefit.
You can choose to include your nontaxable combat pay in earned income when figuring your credit for child and dependent care expenses, even if you choose not to include it in earned income for the earned income credit or the exclusion or deduction for dependent care benefits.
Members of certain religious faiths opposed to social security.
This section is for persons who are members of certain religious faiths that are opposed to participation in Social Security Act programs and have an IRS-approved form that exempts certain income from social security and Medicare taxes. These forms are:
Form 4361, Application for Exemption From Self-Employment Tax for Use by Ministers, Members of Religious Orders and Christian Science Practitioners; and
Form 4029, Application for Exemption From Social Security and Medicare Taxes and Waiver of Benefits, for use by members of recognized religious groups.
Each form is discussed here in terms of what is or isn’t earned income for purposes of the child and dependent care credit. For information on the use of these forms, see Pub. 517, Social Security and Other Information for Members of the Clergy and Religious Workers.
Form 4361.
Whether or not you have an approved Form 4361, amounts you received for performing ministerial duties as an employee are earned income. This includes wages, salaries, tips, and other taxable employee compensation.
However, amounts you received for ministerial duties, but not as an employee, don’t count as earned income. Examples include fees for performing marriages and honoraria for delivering speeches.
Any amount you received for work that isn’t related to your ministerial duties is earned income.
Form 4029.
Whether or not you have an approved Form 4029, all wages, salaries, tips, and other taxable employee compensation are earned income.
However, amounts you received as a self-employed individual don’t count as earned income.
What isn’t earned income?
Earned income doesn’t include:
Amounts reported on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 1 excluded as foreign earned income on Form 2555, line 43;
Pensions and annuities;
Social security and railroad retirement benefits;
Workers’ compensation;
Interest and dividends;
Unemployment compensation;
Scholarships or fellowship grants, except for those reported on Form W-2 and paid to you for teaching or other services;
Nontaxable workfare payments;
Child support payments received;
Income of a nonresident alien that isn’t effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business; or
Any amount received for work while an inmate in a penal institution.
Rule for student-spouse or spouse not able to care for self.
Your spouse is treated as having earned income for any month that he or she is:
A full-time student, or
Physically or mentally not able to care for himself or herself. (Your spouse also must live with you for more than half the year.)
If you are filing a joint return, this rule also applies to you. You can be treated as having earned income for any month you are a full-time student or not able to care for yourself.
Figure the earned income of the nonworking spouse, described under (1) or (2) above, as shown under Earned Income Limit under How To Figure the Credit, later.
This rule applies to only one spouse for any 1 month. If, in the same month, both you and your spouse didn’t work and are either full-time students or not physically or mentally able to care for yourselves, only one of you can be treated as having earned income in that month.
Full-time student.
You are a full-time student if you are enrolled at a school for the number of hours or classes that the school considers full-time. You must have been a full-time student for some part of each of 5 calendar months during the year. (The months need not be consecutive.)
School.
The term “school” includes high schools, colleges, universities, and technical, trade, and mechanical schools. A school doesn’t include an on-the-job training course, correspondence school, or school offering courses only through the Internet.
Child and dependent care expenses must be work related to qualify for the credit. Expenses are considered work related only if both of the following are true.
They allow you (and your spouse if filing jointly) to work or look for work.
They are for a qualifying person’s care.
To be work related, your expenses must allow you to work or look for work. If you are married, generally both you and your spouse must work or look for work. One spouse is treated as working during any month he or she is a full-time student or isn’t physically or mentally able to care for himself or herself.
Your work can be for others or in your own business or partnership. It can be either full-time or part time.
Work also includes actively looking for work. However, if you don’t find a job and have no earned income for the year, you can’t take this credit. See You Must Have Earned Income, earlier.
An expense isn’t considered work related merely because you had it while you were working. The purpose of the expense must be to allow you to work. Whether your expenses allow you to work or look for work depends on the facts.
Example 1.
The cost of a babysitter while you and your spouse go out to eat isn’t normally a work related expense.
Example 2.
You work during the day. Your spouse works at night and sleeps during the day. You pay for care of your 5-year-old child during the hours when you are working and your spouse is sleeping. Your expenses are considered work related.
Volunteer work.
For this purpose, you aren’t considered to be working if you do unpaid volunteer work or volunteer work for a nominal salary.
Work for part of year.
If you work or actively look for work during only part of the period covered by the expenses, then you must figure your expenses for each day. For example, if you work all year and pay care expenses of $250 a month ($3,000 for the year), all the expenses are work related. However, if you work or look for work for only 2 months and 15 days during the year and pay expenses of $250 a month, your work related expenses are limited to $625 (2½ months × $250).
Temporary absence from work.
You don’t have to figure your expenses for each day during a short, temporary absence from work, such as for vacation or a minor illness, if you have to pay for care anyway. Instead, you can figure your credit including the expenses you paid for the period of absence.
An absence of 2 weeks or less is a short, temporary absence. An absence of more than 2 weeks may be considered a short, temporary absence, depending on the circumstances.
Example.
You pay a nanny to care for your 2-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter so you can work. You become ill and miss 4 months of work but receive sick pay. You continue to pay the nanny to care for the children while you are ill. Your absence isn’t a short, temporary absence, and your expenses aren’t considered work related.
Part-time work.
If you work part-time, you generally must figure your expenses for each day. However, if you have to pay for care weekly, monthly, or in another way that includes both days worked and days not worked, you can figure your credit including the expenses you paid for days you didn’t work. Any day when you work at least 1 hour is a day of work.
Example 1.
You work 3 days a week. While you work, your 6-year-old child attends a dependent care center, which complies with all state and local regulations. You can pay the center $150 for any 3 days a week or $250 for 5 days a week. Your child attends the center 5 days a week. Your work related expenses are limited to $150 a week.
Example 2.
The facts are the same as in Example 1, except the center doesn’t offer a 3-day option. The entire $250 weekly fee may be a work related expense.
To be work related, your expenses must be to provide care for a qualifying person.
You don’t have to choose the least expensive way of providing the care. The cost of a paid care provider may be an expense for the care of a qualifying person even if another care provider is available at no cost.
Expenses are for the care of a qualifying person only if their main purpose is the person’s well-being and protection.
Expenses for household services qualify if part of the services is for the care of qualifying persons. See Household Services, later.
Expenses not for care.
Expenses for care don’t include amounts you pay for food, lodging, clothing, education, and entertainment. However, you can include small amounts paid for these items if they are incidental to and can’t be separated from the cost of caring for the qualifying person. Otherwise, see the discussion of Expenses partly work related, later.
Child support payments aren’t for care and don’t qualify for the credit.
Education.
Expenses for a child in nursery school, preschool, or similar programs for children below the level of kindergarten are expenses for care.
Expenses to attend kindergarten or a higher grade aren’t expenses for care. Don’t use these expenses to figure your credit.
However, expenses for before- or after-school care of a child in kindergarten or a higher grade may be expenses for care.
Summer school and tutoring programs aren’t for care.
Example 1.
You take your 3-year-old child to a nursery school that provides lunch and a few educational activities as part of its preschool childcare service. The lunch and educational activities are incidental to the childcare, and their cost can’t be separated from the cost of care. You can count the total cost when you figure the credit.
Example 2.
You place your 10-year-old child in a boarding school so you can work full-time. Only the part of the boarding school expense that is for the care of your child is a work related expense. You can count that part of the expense in figuring your credit if it can be separated from the cost of education. You can’t count any part of the amount you pay the school for your child’s education.
Care outside your home.
You can count the cost of care provided outside your home if the care is for your dependent under age 13 or any other qualifying person who regularly spends at least 8 hours each day in your home.
Dependent care center.
You can count care provided outside your home by a dependent care center only if the center complies with all state and local regulations that apply to these centers.
A dependent care center is a place that provides care for more than six persons (other than persons who live there) and receives a fee, payment, or grant for providing services for any of those persons, even if the center isn’t run for profit.
Camp.
The cost of sending your child to an overnight camp isn’t considered a work related expense.
The cost of sending your child to a day camp may be a work related expense, even if the camp specializes in a particular activity, such as computers or soccer.
Transportation.
If a care provider takes a qualifying person to or from a place where care is provided, that transportation is for the care of the qualifying person. This includes transportation by bus, subway, taxi, or private car. However, transportation not provided by a care provider isn’t for the care of a qualifying person. Also, if you pay the transportation cost for the care provider to come to your home, that expense isn’t for care of a qualifying person.
Fees and deposits.
Fees you paid to an agency to get the services of a care provider, deposits you paid to an agency or preschool, application fees, and other indirect expenses are work related expenses if you have to pay them to get care, even though they aren’t directly for care. However, a forfeited deposit isn’t for the care of a qualifying person if care isn’t provided.
Example 1.
You paid a fee to an agency to get the services of the nanny who cares for your 2-year-old daughter while you work. The fee you paid is a work related expense.
Example 2.
You placed a deposit with a preschool to reserve a place for your 3-year-old child. You later sent your child to a different preschool and forfeited the deposit. The forfeited deposit isn’t for care and therefore not a work related expense.
Expenses you pay for household services meet the work related expense test if they are at least partly for the well-being and protection of a qualifying person.
Definition.
Household services are ordinary and usual services done in and around your home that are necessary to run your home. They include the services of a housekeeper, maid, or cook. However, they don’t include the services of a chauffeur, bartender, or gardener.
Housekeeper.
In this publication, the term “housekeeper” refers to any household employee whose services include the care of a qualifying person.
Expenses partly work related.
If part of an expense is work related (for either household services or the care of a qualifying person) and part is for other purposes, you have to divide the expense. To figure your credit, count only the part that is work related. However, you don’t have to divide the expense if only a small part is for other purposes.
Example.
You pay a housekeeper to care for your 9-year-old and 15-year-old children so you can work. The housekeeper spends most of the time doing normal household work and spends 30 minutes a day driving you to and from work. You don’t have to divide the expenses. You can treat the entire expense of the housekeeper as work related because the time spent driving is minimal. Nor do you have to divide the expenses between the two children, even though the expenses are partly for the 15-year-old child who isn’t a qualifying person, because the expense is also partly for the care of your 9-year-old child, who is a qualifying person. However, the dollar limit (discussed later) is based on one qualifying person, not two.
Meals and lodging provided for housekeeper.
If you have expenses for meals that your housekeeper eats in your home because of his or her employment, count these as work related expenses. If you have extra expenses for providing lodging in your home to the housekeeper, count these as work related expenses also.
Example.
To provide lodging to the housekeeper, you move to an apartment with an extra bedroom. You can count the extra rent and utility expenses for the housekeeper’s bedroom as work related. However, if your housekeeper moves into an existing bedroom in your home, you can count only the extra utility expenses as work related.
Taxes paid on wages.
The taxes you pay on wages for qualifying child and dependent care services are work related expenses. For more information on a household employer’s tax responsibilities, see Do You Have Household Employees, later.
You can count work related payments you make to relatives who aren’t your dependents, even if they live in your home. However, don’t count any amounts you pay to:
A person for whom you (or your spouse if filing jointly) can claim as a dependent;
Your child who was under age 19 at the end of the year, even if he or she isn’t your dependent;
A person who was your spouse any time during the year; or
The parent of your qualifying person if your qualifying person is your child and under age 13.
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.
You file a return apart from your spouse.
Your home is the home of a qualifying person for more than half the year.
You pay more than half the cost of keeping up your home for the year.
Your spouse doesn’t live in your home for the last 6 months of the year.
Not legally separated.
You may also be able to claim the child and dependent care credit even though you aren’t legally separated and you file a separate return. See the following examples.
Example 1.
Amy separated from her spouse in March. She isn’t separated under a decree of divorce or separate maintenance agreement and uses the married filing separate filing status. Amy maintains a home for herself and Sam, her disabled brother. Sam is permanently and totally disabled and unable to care for himself.
Because Sam earns $5,600 in interest income, Amy can’t claim him as a dependent (his gross income is greater than $4,200). And, because Amy isn’t able to claim Sam as a dependent and she is still married as of the end of the year, she can’t use the head of household filing status. Amy’s filing status is married filing separately and Sam qualifies as a qualifying person for the child and dependent care credit.
Because of the following facts, Amy is able to claim the credit for child and dependent care expenses even though Amy uses the married filing separately filing status.
Amy didn’t live with her spouse for the last 6 months of the year.
She has maintained a home for herself and Sam (a qualifying individual) since she separated from her spouse in March.
She maintains her own household and provides more than half of the cost of maintaining that home for her and Sam.
Amy pays an adult daycare center to care for Sam to allow her to work.
Example 2.
Dean separated from his spouse in April. He isn’t separated under a decree of divorce or separate maintenance agreement. He and his spouse haven’t lived together since April, and Dean maintains his own home and provides more than half the cost of maintaining that home for himself and his daughter, Nicole, who is permanently and totally disabled.
Because Nicole is married and files a joint return with her husband, who is away in the military, Dean can’t claim Nicole as a dependent and therefore can’t use the head of household filing status. Dean’s filing status is married filing separately and Nicole qualifies as a qualifying person for the child and dependent care credit.
Because of the following facts, Dean is able to claim the credit for child and dependent care expenses even though he uses the married filing separately filing status.
Dean didn’t live with his spouse for the last 6 months of the year.
He has maintained a home for himself and Nicole (a qualifying individual) since he separated from his spouse in April.
He maintains his own household and provides more than half of the cost of maintaining that home for him and Nicole.
Dean pays a daycare provider to care for Nicole to allow him to work.
Costs of keeping up a home.
The costs of keeping up a home normally include property taxes, mortgage interest, rent, utility charges, home repairs, insurance on the home, and food eaten at home.
The costs of keeping up a home don’t include payments for clothing, education, medical treatment, vacations, life insurance, transportation, or mortgage principal.
They also don’t include the purchase, permanent improvement, or replacement of property. For example, you can’t include the cost of replacing a water heater. However, you can include the cost of repairing a water heater.
Death of spouse.
If your spouse died during the year and you don’t remarry before the end of the year, you generally must file a joint return to take the credit. If you do remarry before the end of the year, the credit can be claimed on your deceased spouse’s own return.
You must identify all persons or organizations that provide care for your child or dependent. Use Form 2441, Part I, to show the information.
If you don’t have any care providers and you are filing Form 2441 only to report taxable income in Part III, enter “none” in line 1, column (a).
Information needed.
To identify the care provider, you must give the provider’s:
Name,
Address, and
Taxpayer identification number.
If the care provider is an individual, the taxpayer identification number is his or her social security number or individual taxpayer identification number. If the care provider is an organization, then it is the employer identification number (EIN).
You don’t have to show the taxpayer identification number if the care provider is a tax-exempt organization (such as a church or school). In this case, enter “Tax-Exempt” in the space where Form 2441 asks for the number.
If you can’t provide all of the information or the information is incorrect, you must be able to show that you used due diligence (discussed later) in trying to furnish the necessary information.
Getting the information.
You can use Form W-10, Dependent Care Provider’s Identification and Certification, to request the required information from the care provider. If you don’t use Form W-10, you can get the information from one of the other sources listed in the instructions for Form W-10, including:
A copy of the provider’s social security card;
A copy of the provider’s completed Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate, if he or she is your household employee;
A copy of the statement furnished by your employer if the provider is your employer’s dependent care plan; or
A letter or invoice from the provider if it shows the necessary information.
You should keep this information with your tax records. Don’t send Form W-10 (or other document containing this information) to the IRS.
Due diligence.
If the care provider information you give is incorrect or incomplete, your credit may not be allowed. However, if you can show that you used due diligence in trying to supply the information, you can still claim the credit.
You can show due diligence by getting and keeping the provider’s completed Form W-10 or one of the other sources of information just listed. Care providers can be penalized if they don’t provide this information to you or if they provide incorrect information.
Provider refusal.
If the provider refuses to give you the identifying information, you should report on Form 2441 whatever information you have (such as the name and address). Enter “See Attached Statement” in the columns calling for the information you don’t have. Then attach a statement explaining that you requested the information from the care provider, but the provider didn’t give you the information. Be sure to write your name and social security number on this statement. The statement will show that you used due diligence in trying to furnish the necessary information.
U.S. citizens and resident aliens living abroad.
If you are living abroad, your care provider may not have, and may not be required to get, a U.S. taxpayer identification number (for example, a SSN or an EIN). If so, enter “LAFCP” (Living Abroad Foreign Care Provider) in the space for the care provider’s taxpayer identification number.
Your credit is a percentage of your work related expenses. Your expenses are subject to the earned income limit and the dollar limit. The percentage is based on your adjusted gross income.
To figure the credit for 2019 work related expenses, count only those you paid by December 31, 2019.
Expenses prepaid in an earlier year.
If you pay for services before they are provided, you can count the prepaid expenses only in the year the care is received. Claim the expenses for the later year as if they were actually paid in that later year.
Expenses not paid until the following year.
Don’t count 2018 expenses that you paid in 2019 as work related expenses for 2019. You may be able to claim an additional credit for them on your 2019 return, but you must figure it separately. See Payments for prior-year’s expenses under Amount of Credit, later.
If you had expenses in 2019 that you didn’t pay until 2020, you can’t count them when figuring your 2019 credit. You may be able to claim a credit for them on your 2020 return.
Expenses reimbursed.
If a state social services agency pays you a nontaxable amount to reimburse you for some of your child and dependent care expenses, you can’t count the expenses that are reimbursed as work related expenses.
Example.
You paid work related expenses of $3,000. You are reimbursed $2,000 by a state social services agency. You can use only $1,000 to figure your credit.
Medical expenses.
Some expenses for the care of qualifying persons who aren’t able to care for themselves may qualify as work related expenses and also as medical expenses. You can use them either way, but you can’t use the same expenses to claim both a credit and a medical expense deduction.
If you use these expenses to figure the credit and they are more than the earned income limit or the dollar limit, discussed later, you can add the excess to your medical expenses. However, if you use your total expenses to figure your medical expense deduction, you can’t use any part of them to figure your credit. For information on medical expenses, see Pub. 502, Medical and Dental Expenses.
Amounts excluded from your income under your employer’s dependent care benefits plan can’t be used to claim a medical expense deduction.
If you receive dependent care benefits, your dollar limit for purposes of the credit may be reduced. See Reduced Dollar Limit, later. But, even if you can’t take the credit, you may be able to take an exclusion or deduction for the dependent care benefits.
Dependent care benefits.
Dependent care benefits include:
Amounts your employer paid directly to either you or your care provider for the care of your qualifying person while you work,
The fair market value of care in a daycare facility provided or sponsored by your employer, and
Pre-tax contributions you made under a dependent care flexible spending arrangement.
Your salary may have been reduced to pay for these benefits. If you received benefits as an employee, they should be shown in box 10 of your Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement. See Statement for employee, later. Benefits you received as a partner should be shown in box 13 of your Schedule K-1 (Form 1065) with code O.
Enter the amount of these benefits on Form 2441, Part III, line 12.
Exclusion or deduction.
If your employer provides dependent care benefits under a qualified plan, you may be able to exclude these benefits from your income. Your employer can tell you whether your benefit plan qualifies. To claim the exclusion, you must complete Part III of Form 2441.
If you are self-employed and receive benefits from a qualified dependent care benefit plan, you are treated as both employer and employee. Therefore, you wouldn’t get an exclusion from wages. Instead, you would get a deduction on Schedule C (Form 1040 or 1040-SR), line 14; Schedule E (Form 1040 or 1040-SR), line 19 or 28; or Schedule F (Form 1040 or 1040-SR), line 15. To claim the deduction, you must use Form 2441.
The amount you can exclude or deduct is limited to the smallest of:
The total amount of dependent care benefits you received during the year,
The total amount of qualified expenses you incurred during the year,
Your earned income,
Your spouse’s earned income; or
$5,000 ($2,500 if married filing separately).
The definition of earned income for the exclusion or deduction is the same as the definition used when figuring the credit except that earned income for the exclusion or deduction doesn’t include any dependent care benefits you receive.
You can choose to include your nontaxable combat pay in earned income when figuring your exclusion or deduction, even if you choose not to include it in earned income for the earned income credit or the credit for child and dependent care expenses.
Statement for employee.
Your employer must give you a Form W-2 (or similar statement), showing in box 10 the total amount of dependent care benefits provided to you during the year under a qualified plan. Your employer will also include any dependent care benefits over $5,000 in your wages shown on your Form W-2 in box 1.
Effect of exclusion on credit.
If you exclude dependent care benefits from your income, the amount of the excluded benefits:
Isn’t included in your work related expenses; and
Reduces the dollar limit, discussed later.
The amount of work related expenses you use to figure your credit can’t be more than:
Your earned income for the year if you are single at the end of the year, or
The smaller of your or your spouse’s earned income for the year if you are married at the end of the year.
Earned income for the purpose of figuring the credit is defined under You Must Have Earned Income, earlier.
For purposes of item (2), use your spouse’s earned income for the entire year, even if you were married for only part of the year.
Example.
You remarried on December 3. Your earned income for the year was $18,000. Your new spouse’s earned income for the year was $2,000. You paid work related expenses of $3,000 for the care of your 5-year-old child and qualified to claim the credit. The amount of expenses you use to figure your credit can’t be more than $2,000 (the smaller of your earned income or that of your spouse).
Separated spouse.
If you are legally separated or married and living apart from your spouse (as described under What’s Your Filing Status, earlier), you aren’t considered married for purposes of the earned income limit. Use only your income in figuring the earned income limit.
Surviving spouse.
If your spouse died during the year and you file a joint return as a surviving spouse, you may, but aren’t required to, take into account the earned income of your spouse who died during the year.
Community property laws.
Disregard community property laws when you figure earned income for this credit.
Self-employment earnings.
If you are self-employed, include your net earnings in earned income. For purposes of the child and dependent care credit, net earnings from self-employment generally means the amount from Schedule SE (either Section A or Section B), line 3, minus any deduction for self-employment tax on Schedule 1 (Form 1040 or 1040-SR), line 14; or Form 1040-NR, line 27. Include your self-employment earnings in earned income, even if they are less than $400 and you didn’t file Schedule SE.
Clergy or church employee.
If you are a member of the clergy or a church employee, see the Instructions for Form 2441 for details.
Statutory employee.
If you filed Schedule C (Form 1040 or 1040-SR) to report income as a statutory employee, also include as earned income the amount from line 1 of that Schedule C (Form 1040 or 1040-SR).
Net loss.
You must reduce your earned income by any net loss from self-employment.
Optional method if earnings are low or a net loss.
If your net earnings from self-employment are low or you have a net loss, you may be able to figure your net earnings by using an optional method instead of the regular method. See Pub. 334, Tax Guide for Small Business, for details. If you use an optional method to figure net earnings for self-employment tax purposes, include those net earnings in your earned income for this credit. In this case, subtract any deduction you claimed on Schedule 1 (Form 1040 or 1040-SR), line 14; or Form 1040-NR, line 27, from the total of the amounts on Schedule SE, Section B, lines 3 and 4b, to figure your net earnings.
You or your spouse is a student or not able to care for self.
Your spouse who is either a full-time student or not able to care for himself or herself is treated as having earned income. His or her earned income for each month is considered to be at least $250 if there is one qualifying person in your home, or at least $500 if there are two or more.
Spouse works.
If your spouse works during that month, use the higher of $250 (or $500) or his or her actual earned income for that month.
Spouse qualifies for part of month.
If your spouse is a full-time student or not able to care for himself or herself for only part of a month, the full $250 (or $500) still applies for that month.
You are a student or not able to care for yourself.
These rules also apply if you are a student or not able to care for yourself and are filing a joint return. For each month or part of a month you are a student or not able to care for yourself, your earned income is considered to be at least $250 (or $500). If you also work during that month, use the higher of $250 (or $500) or your actual earned income for that month.
Both spouses qualify.
If, in the same month, both you and your spouse are either full-time students or not able to care for yourselves, only one spouse can be considered to have this earned income of $250 (or $500) for that month.
Example.
Jim works and keeps up a home for himself and his wife Sharon. Because of an accident, Sharon isn’t able to care for herself for 11 months during the tax year.
During the 11 months, Jim pays $3,300 of work related expenses for Sharon’s care. These expenses also qualify as medical expenses. Their adjusted gross income is $29,000 and the entire amount is Jim’s earned income.
Jim and Sharon’s earned income limit is the smallest of the following amounts.
Jim and Sharon can use $2,750 to figure the credit and treat the balance of $550 ($3,300 − $2,750) as a medical expense. However, if they use the $3,300 first as a medical expense, they can’t use any part of that amount to figure the credit.
There is a dollar limit on the amount of your work related expenses you can use to figure the credit. This limit is $3,000 for one qualifying person, or $6,000 for two or more qualifying persons.
If you paid work related expenses for the care of two or more qualifying persons, the applicable dollar limit is $6,000. This limit doesn’t need to be divided equally among them. For example, if your work related expenses for the care of one qualifying person are $3,200 and your work related expenses for another qualifying person are $2,800, you can use the total, $6,000, when figuring the credit.
Yearly limit.
The dollar limit is a yearly limit. The amount of the dollar limit remains the same no matter how long, during the year, you have a qualifying person in your household. Use the $3,000 limit if you paid work related expenses for the care of one qualifying person at any time during the year. Use $6,000 if you paid work related expenses for the care of more than one qualifying person at any time during the year.
Example 1.
You pay $500 a month for after-school care for your son. He turned 13 on May 1 and is no longer a qualifying person. You can use the $2,000 of expenses for his care January through April to figure your credit because it isn’t more than the $3,000 yearly limit.
Example 2.
In July of this year, to permit your spouse to begin a new job, you enrolled your 3-year-old daughter in a nursery school that provides preschool childcare. You paid $300 per month for the childcare. You can use the full $1,800 you paid ($300 × 6 months) as qualified expenses because it isn’t more than the $3,000 yearly limit.
If you received dependent care benefits that you exclude or deduct from your income, you must subtract that amount from the dollar limit that applies to you. Your reduced dollar limit is figured on Form 2441, Part III. See Dependent Care Benefits, earlier, for information on excluding or deducting these benefits.
Example 1.
George is a widower with one child and earns $24,000 a year. He pays work related expenses of $2,900 for the care of his 4-year-old child and qualifies to claim the credit for child and dependent care expenses. His employer pays an additional $1,000 under a qualified dependent care benefit plan. This $1,000 is excluded from George’s income.
Although the dollar limit for his work related expenses is $3,000 (one qualifying person), George figures his credit on only $2,000 of the $2,900 work related expenses he paid. This is because his dollar limit is reduced as shown next.
Example 2.
Randall is married and both he and his wife are employed. Each has earned income in excess of $6,000. They have two children, Anne and Andy, ages 2 and 4, who attend a daycare facility licensed and regulated by the state. Randall’s work related expenses are $6,000 for the year.
Randall’s employer has a dependent care assistance program as part of its cafeteria plan, which allows employees to make pre-tax contributions to a dependent care flexible spending arrangement. Randall has elected to take the maximum $5,000 exclusion from his salary to cover dependent care expenses through this program.
Although the dollar limit for his work related expenses is $6,000 (two or more qualifying persons), Randall figures his credit on only $1,000 of the $6,000 work related expense paid. This is because his dollar limit is reduced as shown next.
To determine the amount of your credit, multiply your work related expenses (after applying the earned income and dollar limits) by a percentage. This percentage depends on your adjusted gross income shown on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 8b; or Form 1040-NR, line 35. The following table shows the percentage to use based on adjusted gross income.
To qualify for the credit, you must have one or more qualifying persons. You should show the expenses for each person on Form 2441, line 2, column (c). However, it is possible a qualifying person could have no expenses and a second qualifying person could have expenses exceeding $3,000. You should list -0- for the one person and the actual amount for the second person. The $6,000 limit that applies to two or more qualifying persons would still be used to figure your credit unless you already excluded or deducted, in Part III of Form 2441, certain dependent care benefits paid to you (or on your behalf) by your employer.
Example.
Roger and Megan Paris have two qualifying children. They received $1,000 of dependent care benefits from Megan’s employer during 2019, but they incurred a total of $19,500 of child and dependent care expenses. They complete Part III of Form 2441 to exclude the $1,000 from their taxable income (offsetting $1,000 of their expenses). Roger and Megan continue to line 27 to figure their credit using the remaining $18,500 of expenses.
Line 30 tells them to complete line 2 without including any dependent care benefits. They complete line 2 of Form 2441, listing both Susan and James, as shown in the Line 2 Example below.
All of Susan’s expenses were covered by the $1,000 of employer-provided dependent care benefits. However, their son James has special needs and they paid $18,500 for his care. Line 3 imposes a $5,000 limit for two or more children ($6,000 limit minus $1,000 already excluded from income = $5,000) and Roger and Megan continue to complete the form.
Even though line 2 indicates one of the Paris children didn’t have any dependent care expenses, it doesn’t change the fact that they had two qualifying children for the purposes of Form 2441.
Payments for prior-year’s expenses.
If you had work related expenses in 2018 that you paid in 2019, you may be able to increase the credit on your 2019 return. Attach a statement to your form showing how you figured the additional amount from 2018. Then enter “CPYE” (Credit for Prior-Year Expenses) and the amount of the credit on the dotted line next to line 9 on Form 2441. Also enter the name and taxpayer identification number of the person for whom you paid the prior-year’s expenses. Then add this credit to the amount on line 9, and replace the amount on line 9 with the total. See Worksheet A.
Example.
In 2018, Sam and Kate had childcare expenses of $2,600 for their 12-year-old child. Of the $2,600, they paid $2,000 in 2018 and $600 in 2019. Their adjusted gross income for 2018 was $30,000. Sam’s earned income of $14,000 was less than Kate’s earned income. A credit for their 2018 expenses paid in 2019 isn’t allowed in 2018. It is allowed for the 2019 tax year, but they must use their adjusted gross income for 2018 to figure the amount. The filled-in Worksheet A they used to figure this credit is shown later.
Sam and Kate add the $162 from line 13 of this worksheet to their 2019 credit and enter the total on their Form 2441, line 9. They enter “CPYE $162” and their child’s name and SSN in the space to the left of line 9.
“CPYE.”
The amount of this credit for a prior-year’s expenses.
“CPYE.”
The amount of this credit for a prior-year’s expenses.
To claim the credit, you can file Form 1040, 1040-SR, or 1040-NR. You can’t claim the credit on Form 1040-NR-EZ.
Form 1040, 1040-SR, or 1040-NR.
You must complete Form 2441 and attach it to your Form 1040, 1040-SR, or 1040-NR. Enter the credit on your Schedule 3 (Form 1040 or 1040-SR), line 2; or Form 1040-NR, line 47.
Limit on credit.
The amount of credit you can claim is limited to your tax. For more information, see the Instructions for Form 2441.
Tax credit not refundable.
You can’t get a refund for any part of the credit that is more than this limit.
Recordkeeping. You should keep records of your work related expenses. Also, if your dependent or spouse isn’t able to care for himself or herself, your records should show both the nature and length of the disability. Other records you should keep to support your claim for the credit are described under Care Provider Identification Test, earlier.
If you pay someone to come to your home and care for your dependent or spouse, you may be a household employer. If you are a household employer, you will need an employer identification number (EIN) and you may have to pay employment taxes. If the individuals who work in your home are self-employed, you aren’t liable for any of the taxes discussed in this section. Self-employed persons who are in business for themselves aren’t household employees. Usually, you aren’t a household employer if the person who cares for your dependent or spouse does so at his or her home or place of business.
If you use a placement agency that exercises control over what work is done and how it will be done by a babysitter or companion who works in your home, the worker isn’t your employee. This control could include providing rules of conduct and appearance and requiring regular reports. In this case, you don’t have to pay employment taxes. But if an agency merely gives you a list of sitters and you hire one from that list and pay the sitter directly, the sitter may be your employee.
If you have a household employee, you may be subject to:
Social security and Medicare taxes,
Federal unemployment tax, and
Federal income tax withholding.
Social security and Medicare taxes are generally withheld from the employee’s pay and matched by the employer. Federal unemployment (FUTA) tax is paid by the employer only and provides for payments of unemployment compensation to workers who have lost their jobs. Federal income tax is withheld from the employee’s total pay if the employee asks you to do so and you agree.
For more information on a household employer’s tax responsibilities, see Pub. 926 and Schedule H (Form 1040 or 1040-SR) and its instructions.
State employment tax.
You may also have to pay state unemployment tax. Contact your state unemployment tax office for information. You should also find out whether you need to pay or collect other state employment taxes or carry worker’s compensation insurance. For a list of state unemployment tax agencies, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s website. To find that website, use the link in Pub. 926 or search online.
If you have questions about a tax issue, need help preparing your tax return, or want to download free publications, forms, or instructions, go to IRS.gov and find resources that can help you right away.
Preparing and filing your tax return.
After receiving your wage and earning statements (Form W-2, W-2G, 1099-R, 1099-MISC) from all employers and interest and dividend statements from banks (Forms 1099), you can find free options to prepare and file your return on IRS.gov or in your local community if you qualify.
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free tax help to people with low-to-moderate incomes, persons with disabilities, and limited-English-speaking taxpayers who need help preparing their own tax returns. The Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) program offers free tax help for all taxpayers, particularly those who are 60 years of age and older. TCE volunteers specialize in answering questions about pensions and retirement-related issues unique to seniors.
You can go to IRS.gov to see your options for preparing and filing your return, which include the following.
Free File. Go to IRS.gov/FreeFile to see if you qualify to use brand-name software to prepare and e-file your federal tax return for free.
VITA. Go to IRS.gov/VITA, download the free IRS2Go app, or call 800-906-9887 to find the nearest VITA location for free tax return preparation.
TCE. Go to IRS.gov/TCE, download the free IRS2Go app, or call 888-227-7669 to find the nearest TCE location for free tax return preparation.
Employers can register to use Business Services Online.
The SSA offers online service for fast, free, and secure online W-2 filing options to CPAs, accountants, enrolled agents, and individuals who process Forms W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, and Forms W-2c, Statement of Corrected Wage and Tax Amounts. Employers can go to SSA.gov/employer for more information.
Getting answers to your tax questions. On IRS.gov, get answers to your tax questions anytime, anywhere.
Go to IRS.gov/Help for a variety of tools that will help you get answers to some of the most common tax questions.
Go to IRS.gov/ITA for the Interactive Tax Assistant, a tool that will ask you questions on a number of tax law topics and provide answers. You can print the entire interview and the final response for your records.
Go to IRS.gov/Forms to search for our forms, instructions, and publications. You will find details on 2019 tax changes and hundreds of interactive links to help you find answers to your questions.
You may also be able to access tax law information in your electronic filing software.
Tax reform.
Tax reform legislation affects individuals, businesses, tax-exempt and government entities. Go to IRS.gov/TaxReform for information and updates on how this legislation affects your taxes.
IRS social media.
Go to IRS.gov/SocialMedia to see the various social media tools the IRS uses to share the latest information on tax changes, scam alerts, initiatives, products, and services. At the IRS, privacy and security are paramount. We use these tools to share public information with you. Don’t post your social security number or other confidential information on social media sites. Always protect your identity when using any social networking site.
The following IRS YouTube channels provide short, informative videos on various tax-related topics in English, Spanish, and ASL.
Youtube.com/irsvideosmultilingual.
Watching IRS videos.
The IRS Video portal (IRSVideos.gov) contains video and audio presentations for individuals, small businesses, and tax professionals.
Getting tax information in other languages.
For taxpayers whose native language isn’t English, we have the following resources available. Taxpayers can find information on IRS.gov in the following languages.
Vietnamese (IRS.gov/Vietnamese).
The IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers (TACs) provide over-the-phone interpreter service in over 170 languages, and the service is available free to taxpayers.
Getting tax forms and publications.
Go to IRS.gov/Forms to view, download, or print all of the forms, instructions, and publications you may need. You can also download and view popular tax publications and instructions (including the 1040 and 1040-SR instructions) on mobile devices as an eBook at no charge at IRS.gov/eBooks. Or you can go to IRS.gov/OrderForms to place an order and have them mailed to you within 10 business days.
Access your online account (individual taxpayers only).
Go to IRS.gov/Account to securely access information about your federal tax account.
View the amount you owe, pay online, or set up an online payment agreement.
Access your tax records online.
Review the past 24 months of your payment history.
Go to IRS.gov/SecureAccess to review the required identity authentication process.
Using direct deposit.
The fastest way to receive a tax refund is to combine direct deposit and IRS e-file. Direct deposit securely and electronically transfers your refund directly into your financial account. Eight in 10 taxpayers use direct deposit to receive their refund. The IRS issues more than 90% of refunds in less than 21 days.
Getting a transcript or copy of a return.
The quickest way to get a copy of your tax transcript is to go to IRS.gov/Transcripts. Click on either “Get Transcript Online” or “Get Transcript by Mail” to order a copy of your transcript. If you prefer, you can order your transcript by calling 800-908-9946.
Using online tools to help prepare your return.
Go to IRS.gov/Tools for the following.
The Earned Income Tax Credit Assistant (IRS.gov/EITCAssistant) determines if you’re eligible for the EIC.
The Online EIN Application (IRS.gov/EIN) helps you get an employer identification number.
The Tax Withholding Estimator (IRS.gov/W4app) makes it easier for everyone to pay the correct amount of tax during the year. The Estimator replaces the Withholding Calculator. The redesigned tool is a convenient, online way to check and tailor your withholding. It’s more user-friendly for taxpayers, including retirees and self-employed individuals. The new and improved features include the following.
Easy to understand language;
The ability to switch between screens, correct previous entries, and skip screens that don’t apply;
Tips and links to help you determine if you qualify for tax credits and deductions;
A progress tracker;
A self-employment tax feature; and
Automatic calculation of taxable social security benefits.
The First Time Homebuyer Credit Account Look-up (IRS.gov/HomeBuyer) tool provides information on your repayments and account balance.
The Sales Tax Deduction Calculator (IRS.gov/SalesTax) figures the amount you can claim if you itemize deductions on Schedule A (Form 1040 or 1040-SR), choose not to claim state and local income taxes, and you didn’t save your receipts showing the sales tax you paid.
Resolving tax-related identity theft issues.
The IRS doesn’t initiate contact with taxpayers by email or telephone to request personal or financial information. This includes any type of electronic communication, such as text messages and social media channels.
Go to IRS.gov/IDProtection for information.
If your SSN has been lost or stolen or you suspect you’re a victim of tax-related identity theft, visit IRS.gov/IdentityTheft to learn what steps you should take.
Checking on the status of your refund.
Go to IRS.gov/Refunds.
The IRS can’t issue refunds before mid-February 2020 for returns that claimed the EIC or the ACTC. This applies to the entire refund, not just the portion associated with these credits.
Download the official IRS2Go app to your mobile device to check your refund status.
Call the automated refund hotline at 800-829-1954.
Making a tax payment.
The IRS uses the latest encryption technology to ensure your electronic payments are safe and secure. You can make electronic payments online, by phone, and from a mobile device using the IRS2Go app. Paying electronically is quick, easy, and faster than mailing in a check or money order. Go to IRS.gov/Payments to make a payment using any of the following options.
IRS Direct Pay: Pay your individual tax bill or estimated tax payment directly from your checking or savings account at no cost to you.
Debit or Credit Card: Choose an approved payment processor to pay online, by phone, and by mobile device.
Electronic Funds Withdrawal: Offered only when filing your federal taxes using tax return preparation software or through a tax professional.
Electronic Federal Tax Payment System: Best option for businesses. Enrollment is required.
Check or Money Order: Mail your payment to the address listed on the notice or instructions.
Cash: You may be able to pay your taxes with cash at a participating retail store.
Same-Day Wire: You may be able to do same-day wire from your financial institution. Contact your financial institution for availability, cost, and cut-off times.
What if I can’t pay now?
Go to IRS.gov/Payments for more information about your options.
Apply for an online payment agreement (IRS.gov/OPA) to meet your tax obligation in monthly installments if you can’t pay your taxes in full today. Once you complete the online process, you will receive immediate notification of whether your agreement has been approved.
Use the Offer in Compromise Pre-Qualifier to see if you can settle your tax debt for less than the full amount you owe. For more information on the Offer in Compromise program, go to IRS.gov/OIC.
Checking the status of an amended return.
Go to IRS.gov/WMAR to track the status of Form 1040-X amended returns. Please note that it can take up to 3 weeks from the date you filed your amended return for it to show up in our system, and processing it can take up to 16 weeks.
Understanding an IRS notice or letter.
Go to IRS.gov/Notices to find additional information about responding to an IRS notice or letter.
Contacting your local IRS office.
Keep in mind, many questions can be answered on IRS.gov without visiting an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center (TAC). Go to IRS.gov/LetUsHelp for the topics people ask about most. If you still need help, IRS TACs provide tax help when a tax issue can’t be handled online or by phone. All TACs now provide service by appointment so you’ll know in advance that you can get the service you need without long wait times. Before you visit, go to IRS.gov/TACLocator to find the nearest TAC, check hours, available services, and appointment options. Or, on the IRS2Go app, under the Stay Connected tab, choose the Contact Us option and click on “Local Offices.”
TAS is an independent organization within the IRS that helps taxpayers and protects taxpayer rights. Their job is to ensure that every taxpayer is treated fairly and that you know and understand your rights under the Taxpayer Bill of Rights.
The Taxpayer Bill of Rights describes 10 basic rights that all taxpayers have when dealing with the IRS. Go to TaxpayerAdvocate.IRS.gov to help you understand what these rights mean to you and how they apply. These are your rights. Know them. Use them.
TAS can help you resolve problems that you can’t resolve with the IRS. And their service is free. If you qualify for their assistance, you will be assigned to one advocate who will work with you throughout the process and will do everything possible to resolve your issue. TAS can help you if:
Your problem is causing financial difficulty for you, your family, or your business;
You face (or your business is facing) an immediate threat of adverse action; or
You’ve tried repeatedly to contact the IRS but no one has responded, or the IRS hasn’t responded by the date promised.
TAS has offices in every state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Your local advocate’s number is in your local directory and at TaxpayerAdvocate.IRS.gov/Contact-Us. You can also call them at 877-777-4778.
TAS works to resolve large-scale problems that affect many taxpayers. If you know of one of these broad issues, please report it to them at IRS.gov/SAMS.
TAS also has a website, Tax Reform Changes, which shows you how the new tax law may change your future tax filings and helps you plan for these changes. The information is categorized by tax topic in the order of the IRS Form 1040 or 1040-SR. Go to TaxChanges.us for more information.
TAS can provide a variety of information for tax professionals, including tax law updates and guidance, TAS programs, and ways to let TAS know about systemic problems you’ve seen in your practice.
LITCs are independent from the IRS. LITCs represent individuals whose income is below a certain level and need to resolve tax problems with the IRS, such as audits, appeals, and tax collection disputes. In addition, clinics can provide information about taxpayer rights and responsibilities in different languages for individuals who speak English as a second language. Services are offered for free or a small fee. To find a clinic near you, visit IRS.gov/LITC or see IRS Pub. 4134, Low Income Taxpayer Clinic List.
Research & References of Publication 503 (2019), Child and Dependent Care Expenses|A&C Accounting And Tax Services
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