I worked full-time and went to graduate school full-time for 5 months last year and paid $12k in daycare fees. Why is my credit deduction not working?

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
January 26, 2025
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xmasbaby0

Employee

Have you entered the income from working? The childcare credit will not work unless you have already entered your W-2 or self-employment income.

**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**

emilyroth312Author

I entered myself but not my husband's yet as we are still waiting on his W2 from his employer. Maybe that is why?

xmasbaby0

Employee

Yes---that is why. When you are filing a joint return you have to show income from both parents or the credit will not work.

You will not get the childcare credit until (unless) you enter income earned from working. The credit does not work unless you enter your income first. If you are filing a joint return you must show income for both spouses, or show that one or both of you was a student or disabled. If you have self-employment income and show a loss you will not get the childcare credit. You will not get the credit if you are filing married filing separately.