“ I am planning to enroll my kids in paid after school programs so I can focus on job hunting. Are those expenses something that get covered in relocation or I have a way to claim in my taxes. I have never had the need to use daycare for my children before.”================>The IRS requires that day care services be obtained to allow you to work or search for work.So, yes; the IRS allows tax deductions for eligible daycare expenses on your income tax return. You, as pa aren’t, with school-age children may also be able to claim eligible after-school or extended childcare expenses as deductions as well. Childcare expenses for after-school and similar programs must adhere to many of the same child and dependent-care expense guidelines. Parents with children in kindergarten or higher grades may deduct expenses for before- or after-school programs if the expenses are separate from direct educational expenses. One example of eligible after-school care would be for a child in a half-day kindergarten program in the morning, and an afternoon daycare program with the same school. Expenses for sending the child to the morning kindergarten program would be excluded from eligible daycare expenses because the fees are directly tied to instruction. The afternoon program for daycare only would be eligible for deduction. Extended-care expenses are considered eligible if the expenses were for a qualifying child during the tax year to allow a parent to work or seek employment. The IRS requires taxpayers to have earned income for the tax year child care credits are claimed. Further, both you and your spouse, if you have one, must have earned income during any year for which you claim the credit. For those married filing jointly, one spouse is considered to have earned income if he was a full-time student or was unable to provide childcare because of a disability. Taxpayers must file as single, head of household with dependent children, or married filing jointly to receive the child- and dependent-care expense credit(but not MFS). So, if your spouse does not work and does not meet any of these other requirements, you do not qualify to receive this credit. |