Question

Can teachers claim the child care tax credit during the summer?

Forum|Forum|5 years ago
January 31, 2021
1 reply
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Teachers and other educational personal typically have the summer "off". However, many of them prepare for the school year during the summer and do extra trainings/professional development. If you enroll your child in a child care program during the day, can you apply the child care tax credit for that program? Even if teachers and other educational professionals are not considered by many to be full time during the summer?

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ToddL99

Yes, teachers can claim the Child Care Tax Credit for qualified child car cost incurred while school is not in session.

Teaching is a full-time job, even if there are periods where school is not in session. The Child Care Tax Credit doesn't cease to apply because of winter or spring breaks, nor does it stop during longer (summer) breaks.

To qualify for this credit, you must meet all of these criteria:

You (and your spouse, if filing jointly) must have earned income.
You paid caregiving expenses so that you (and your spouse, if filing jointly) could work or look for work.
You paid a caregiver to care for a Qualifying Person.
You can't file with the Married Filing Separately filing status (except under certain circumstances).
You must furnish the care provider's name, address, and (unless it's a tax-exempt organization) their SSN, ITIN, or EIN on your return.

In the case of teachers, they are still considered to be 'working' or 'looking for work' while waiting for school to start up again after scheduled breaks.