What is the income limit for the dependent care tax credit?

Asked by: Maeve Kassulke  |  Last update: April 10, 2025
Score: 4.2/5 (57 votes)

In most years you can claim the credit regardless of your income. The Child and Dependent Care Credit does get smaller at higher incomes, but it doesn't disappear - except for 2021. In 2021, the credit is unavailable for any taxpayer with adjusted gross income over $438,000.

Is there an income limit for dependent care credit?

For 2021, the 50-percent amount begins to phase out if your adjusted gross income is more than $125,000, and completely phases out if your adjusted gross income is more than $438,000.

Why would I not qualify for dependent care credit?

To receive the credit for Child and Dependent Care Expenses, the expenses had to have been paid for care to be provided so that you (and your spouse, if filing jointly) could work or look for work. If both spouses do not show "earned income" (W-2's, business income, etc.), you generally cannot claim the credit.

How much can your child make and still be claimed as a dependent?

If the dependent child is being claimed under the qualifying relative rules, the child's gross income must be less than $5,050 for the year in 2024. This threshold increases to $5,200 for 2025. When should I stop claiming my child as a dependent?

Does dependent care FSA have an income limit?

Maximum Annual Dependent Care FSA Contribution Limits

If your tax filing status is Single, your annual limit is: $5,000 if your 2024 earnings were less than $155,000; however, your contributions may not be in excess of your earned income for the plan year. $3,600 if your 2024 earnings were $155,000 or more.

Child Tax Credit 2025: $7,200 Per Family

36 related questions found

Who is not eligible for dependent care FSA?

You can include expenses paid to a babysitter if the services are necessary for you and your spouse, if married, to work, look for work, or attend school full-time. However, your dependent care costs are not eligible if you did not find a job and have no earned income for the year.

What is the dependent care FSA limit for 2025 highly compensated?

Important Notes on Dependent Care FSAs

If you are married and file separate tax returns the most you can contribute is $2,500. If your annual compensation is equal to or more than $155,000 your maximum contribution will be $2,250 for 2025.

Can I claim my daughter as a dependent if she made over $10000?

If your dependent is a qualifying child, there is no limit to the amount of income they can earn. Generally, to qualify, the child must meet the specific relationship, age, residency, and support requirements. However, if your dependent is classified as a qualifying relative, their gross income must not exceed $4,700.

Is it better not to claim my college student as a dependent?

Cons of Claiming a College Student as a Dependent

If your child has earned income and you claim them as a dependent, they lose the opportunity to claim their own personal exemption (when applicable in future years) and certain tax credits that could be more advantageous for them.

Can I still claim my child as a dependent if she works?

While there are many nuances to tax dependents, you can still claim them even if they earn income or receive SNAP benefits or other government assistance.

What is the $3600 Child Tax Credit?

Lawmakers should, at a minimum, reinstate the successful 2021 American Rescue Plan expansion of the Child Tax Credit, including making the full credit available to children in families with low incomes and increasing the maximum amount of the credit to $3,600 for children aged 5 and younger and $3,000 for children aged ...

Can I claim my 25 year old son as a dependent?

It's possible, but once you're over age 24, you can no longer be claimed as a qualifying child. The only exception to this is if you're permanently and totally disabled.

Can you get both Child Tax Credit and dependent care credit?

Yes, you may claim the child tax credit (CTC)/additional child tax credit (ACTC) or credit for other dependents (ODC) as well as the child and dependent care credit on your return if you qualify for those credits.

Why do I not qualify for dependent care credit?

In most years you can claim the credit regardless of your income. The Child and Dependent Care Credit does get smaller at higher incomes, but it doesn't disappear - except for 2021. In 2021, the credit is unavailable for any taxpayer with adjusted gross income over $438,000.

What is the $5000 caregiver tax credit?

Reintroduced in the House in January by Reps. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.) and Mike Carey (R-Ohio), the Credit for Caring Act (HR 7165) provides a nonrefundable tax credit of up to $5,000 to cover 30% of qualified long-term care expenses that exceed $2,000 in a taxable year.

What is the income limit for the other dependent credit?

The credit begins to phase out when the taxpayer's income is more than $200,000. This phaseout begins for married couples filing a joint tax return at $400,000. A taxpayer can claim this credit if: They claim the person as a dependent on the taxpayer's return.

When should I no longer claim my child as a dependent?

To meet the qualifying child test, your child must be younger than you or your spouse if filing jointly and either younger than 19 years old or be a "student" younger than 24 years old as of the end of the calendar year.

What is the income limit for the child tax credit?

Overview. The Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC) provides up to $1,154 per eligible tax return for tax year 2024. YCTC may provide you with cash back or reduce any tax you owe. California families qualify with earned income of $31,950 or less.

What are the 5 tests for qualifying children?

Changes to Certain Benefits

The five dependency tests – relationship, gross income, support, joint return and citizenship/residency – continue to apply to a qualifying relative. A child who is not a qualifying child might still be a dependent as a qualifying relative.

When should I stop claiming my college student as a dependent?

You must stop claiming your college student as a dependent once they are 24 years old or older, or if they start filing their own taxes jointly with a spouse.

Do I need to report my child's income on my tax return?

The general rule is that a parent can claim a dependent child's investment income on their own return up to a certain amount —above that, the child needs to file themselves. To claim a child's income on a parent's tax return, the child needs to be considered a qualifying child dependent of the parent.

Can you make too much money to claim a dependent?

Gross income is the total of your unearned and earned income. If your gross income was $5,050 or more, you usually can't be claimed as a dependent unless you are a qualifying child.

Do I make too much for a dependent care FSA?

The IRS defines employees who earned $155,000 or more in 2024 as “highly compensated,” and limits their 2025 DepCare FSA contributions to $2,500. The Dependent Care FSA is a use-it-or-lose-it plan, with a grace period for using the funds in your account.

Can you use FSA for dental?

You can use funds in your FSA to pay for certain medical and dental expenses for you, your spouse if you're married, and your dependents. You can spend FSA funds to pay deductibles and copayments, but not for insurance premiums.

What is a highly compensated employee?

According to the IRS, a highly compensated employee is someone who either owned more than 5% of the interest in the business at any time during the year or the preceding year (regardless of how much compensation that person earned or received) or, received more than $155,000 in compensation in the previous year if that ...