Child Care Tax Credit Estimator — Free Printable Worksheet

This page gives you a one-page worksheet you can print or fill in by hand to estimate your federal Child and Dependent Care Credit (CDCC). It mirrors the structure used on our home-page Child Care Tax Credit Estimator and the rules explained in our step-by-step guide to claiming the credit.

You can:

Print the worksheet (desktop: Ctrl/Cmd + P) and complete it by hand, or
Use it as a checklist while working through the estimator on the home page and referencing the FAQ.

When you are ready to file, your results can help you fill out IRS Form 2441 and any relevant state forms you find through our state-by-state childcare tax credit guide.

Childcare Tax Credit Estimator Worksheet

Use one worksheet per tax return. This worksheet is for your own records, not filed with the IRS.

Taxpayer information (for your records)

Optional: helps you keep this worksheet with your tax folder.

Name(s)________________________________________

Tax year________________

Step A — Count qualifying persons

Under age 13, or spouse/dependent incapable of self-care who lived with you more than half the year.

1) Number of qualifying persons ________

Tip: You will list each qualifying person and their SSN on Form 2441. For definitions, see our Childcare Tax Credit FAQ.

Step B — Total qualified care expenses

Include only work-related childcare so you (and your spouse, if filing jointly) could work or look for work. Exclude amounts paid by a Dependent Care FSA and any fully reimbursed expenses.

2) Qualified childcare expenses paid this year $ ____________________

3) Minus: Dependent Care FSA benefits (W-2 Box 10) – $ ____________________

4) = Net expenses for credit (2 – 3) $ ____________________

For examples of childcare expenses that usually qualify, see our FAQ on qualifying childcare expenses.

Step C — Apply the dollar cap

The law caps how much of your childcare expenses can be used to compute the credit. Use the smaller of your net expenses from Step B and the dollar cap below.

One qualifying person

$3,000

Two or more

$6,000

5) Allowed expenses (smaller of line 4 and the cap) $ ____________________

Step D — Earned income limit

Your allowed expenses cannot be more than your earned income (or your spouse’s, if lower). Earned income usually includes wages, salaries, tips, and net self-employment income.

6) Your earned income $ ____________________

7) Spouse earned income (if married filing jointly) $ ____________________

8) Earned income limit (smaller of lines 6 and 7, or 6 if single) $ ____________________

9) Expenses allowed after earned income limit (smaller of line 5 and line 8) $ ____________________

Step E — Find your percentage and estimate your credit

Use your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) and the percentage table on our home page estimator to find your percentage.

10) Your AGI (from your tax return) $ ____________________

11) Credit percentage from AGI table __________ %

12) Estimated Child and Dependent Care Credit (line 9 × line 11 %) $ ____________________

This is a rough estimate to help you get oriented before you complete IRS Form 2441 and your full tax return.

Print this page (Ctrl/Cmd + P) to keep with your tax documents. When you are ready, use the online estimator on our home page to double-check your math, then move on to the step-by-step Form 2441 instructions.