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Policy Priority
The Tax Code

Child & Dependent Care Tax Credit

Overview

The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC) helps parents pay for child care so they can work and is the only provision of the tax code specifically created to help working parents pay for child care.

The CDCTC helps working parents keep more of what they make and helps offset the high cost of child care. Parents can claim a percentage of expenses to help cover the cost of care for children under the age of 13 or adult dependents.

CDCTC helps parents afford child care by offsetting the cost of going to work and providing for their families. It is critical that Congress expand this tax provision to support businesses and parents.

Top
Resources

Resource

The First Five Things To Know About: The Federal Tax Code and Child Care

October 29, 2024

Child care is not a luxury for American families – it’s a necessity. Yet the high costs associated with quality child care are rapidly outpacing most other expenses, including the …

Resource

Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC): Overview

October 21, 2024

Millions of American families are struggling to find quality, reliable, affordable child care they can depend on. This is having a devastating impact on our youngest learners, working families, and …

Resource

Child Care and the Federal Tax Code

February 18, 2025

Millions of families across the United States need child care. Yet for too many, child care is hard to find and even harder to afford. Congress can lead the way. …

Latest
updates

News

New Poll: GOP Voters Call on Congress, White House to Act on Child Care

February 12, 2025

In the 2024 election, voters made it clear that child care challenges were causing a serious strain on family finances, workplace productivity, and the economy as a whole. They want …

News

Webinar: How we can help protect and expand the CDCTC

January 30, 2025

This week, FFYF, NAEYC, and Child Care Aware of America hosted an inside look at the upcoming tax debate with MomsFirst and the Independent Restaurant Coalition; focused on the Child …

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