Tax Credits for Child and Dependent Care

Author: Preston Brashers

TOPLINE:

The One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) expanded: (1) The Employer-Provided Child Care Credit, (2) The Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP) exclusion, and (3) The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC).

BACKGROUND:

The Employer-Provided Child Care Credit offsets a portion of the expenses of employers who provide child care to their employees.

DCAPs are benefits that employers provide or pay for employees to assist with household and dependent care services that are necessary for employment. The exclusion allows employees to exclude DCAP benefits from income for tax purposes.

The CDCTC is a non-refundable tax credit for workers and job seekers that offsets expenses related to caring for children under 13 and dependents who are incapable of self-care. Qualifying services may include daycare, pre-school, after-school care, in-home care, and others. Before OBBB, the credit was limited to $3,000 of expenses for one qualifying child or individual or $6,000 for two or more qualifying individuals.

What OBBB Did:

• Increased the Employer-Provided Child Care Credit from 25% to 40% for eligible expenses (50% for eligible small businesses), beginning in 2026.
• Increased the maximum DCAP exclusion amount from $5,000 to $7,500 in 2026.
• Made the CDCTC credit phase out at higher incomes. For married filers:
  • Pre-OBBB credit: 35% phasing down to 20% between $15,000 – $43,000 AGI;
  • Credit starting 2026: 50% phasing down to 35% between $15,000 – $43,000 AGI, then phasing down to 20% between incomes of $150,000 & $206,000.

Why It Matters?

• The federal government shouldn’t subsidize formal child care over other arrangements like a stay-at-home parent, relatives or nannies caring for children.
• According to an IFS study, only 11% of parents of kids ages 0-4 report preferring full-time center-based childcare to other options.

Where Can I Find Changes?

OBBB Section 70401, 70404, 70405; 26 U.S.C. § 45F,  § 129(a), § 21(a).

BOTTOMLINE:

When the government tries to help families, it usually does the opposite. Parents know better than government what arrangements are right for their children and their family.

This memo is part of the One Big Beautiful Booklet, a collection of more than 60 memos that examine and summarize the major aspects of the One Big Beautiful Bill – the signature legislative achievement of President Trump and the 119th Congress.