Question

Leroy and Jenny (Married Filing Jointly) have two children ages 10 and 8 at home. In 2018 they paid $10,000 in daycare to their oldest daughter (21 years of age...and she is no longer claimed as a dependent by Leroy and Jenny). She has cared for their children for the last two years as part of a certified day care that she started (she cares for 12 other children as well...the business has been successful). Placing the children in daycare has allowed both Leroy and Jenny to work. According to IRS publication 503, Leroy and Jenny's income level only allows them to claim 20% of daycare expenses as the Child and Dependent Care Credit. How much can they claim as a credit (they have enough earned income to cover the daycare expenses for 2018)?

Group of answer choices $1,200 $2,000 $10,000 $6,000

Answer 1

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.