Form 2441, Child and Dependent Care Expenses
Form 2441 claims the credit for child and dependent care expenses you paid so you could work or look for work. Fill in the official IRS PDF below and download it.
This is the genuine IRS PDF, unmodified. Source: IRS official page.
What is 2441?
Form 2441, Child and Dependent Care Expenses, figures the credit for amounts you paid someone to care for a qualifying person, typically a child under 13 or a spouse or dependent unable to care for themselves, so that you (and your spouse, if filing jointly) could work or look for work. The credit is a percentage of your qualified expenses, with the percentage and expense limits set in the current instructions.
The form also reconciles employer-provided dependent care benefits in Part III, such as amounts you set aside in a dependent care FSA, since those benefits reduce the expenses eligible for the credit.
Who files 2441?
- Working parents who paid for daycare, preschool, day camp, or a nanny for a child under 13
- Taxpayers paying for care of a spouse or dependent who cannot care for themselves
- Anyone with dependent care benefits from work, such as an FSA, even if they claim no credit
- Married couples where both spouses worked, looked for work, or one was a full-time student
How to fill out 2441
- In Part I, list each care provider with their name, address, TIN or SSN, and the amount you paid.
- In Part II, list each qualifying person and their qualified expenses, applying the per-person limits from the instructions.
- Enter your earned income and your spouse’s; the credit is limited to the smaller earned income.
- If you received dependent care benefits from an employer, complete Part III first to see how much of your expenses remain eligible.
- Figure the credit using the percentage for your income level, download the PDF, and attach it to your Form 1040.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need my babysitter’s Social Security number?
Yes. You must report each provider’s name, address, and taxpayer identification number on Part I, unless the provider is a tax-exempt organization. Ask the provider to complete Form W-10 or provide the details another way.
Can I claim the credit if I have a dependent care FSA?
Sometimes. FSA benefits reduce your eligible expenses dollar for dollar, and you must complete Part III either way. If your expenses exceed the benefits, the remainder may still qualify for the credit up to the limits.
Does summer day camp count as a care expense?
Day camp generally qualifies if it allowed you to work. Overnight camp and schooling at kindergarten level or above do not count as care expenses.