Minnesota Child and Dependent Care Credit - Schedule M1CD
The Minnesota Child and Dependent Care Credit (Schedule M1CD) allows eligible taxpayers to claim a credit for expenses paid for the care of a qualifying child or dependent, enabling them to work or look for work. This credit is designed to support working families in Minnesota by reducing their state tax liability.
Eligibility Requirements
- You must have paid for care services for a qualifying child or dependent under age 13, or a dependent who is physically or mentally incapable of self-care.
- The care must have been necessary for you (or your spouse, if filing jointly) to work or look for work.
- You must have incurred expenses for care during the tax year 2025.
- You must not have participated in a pre-tax dependent care assistance program.
How to Claim the Credit
To claim the Minnesota Child and Dependent Care Credit, you must complete Schedule M1CD. This schedule is attached to your Minnesota individual income tax return (Form M1).
When filing electronically through Online Taxes (OLT) software:
- From within your tax return, click on "State" in the left menu (or tap the three dots on mobile devices).
- Select "Start or Revisit Minnesota State."
- Under the "Credits" section, click "Start or Revisit" next to M1CD - Child and Dependent Care Credit.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to enter your dependent information and care expenses.
Important Notes
- Dependent information must match what you provided on your federal Form 1040.
- If you have more than three dependents, you must provide a separate statement with all required dependent details.
- The credit is nonrefundable, meaning it can only reduce your tax liability to zero.
Related Schedules
For accurate credit calculation, you may need to complete additional schedules:
- Schedule M1DQC – Provides information about dependents and qualifying children.
- Schedule M1CWFC – For Minnesota Child and Working Family Credits, which may interact with M1CD.
Source:
Schedule M1CD - Child and Dependent Care Credit
Form M1 Instructions
Schedule M1DQC - Dependents and Qualifying Children
Disclaimer: Always verify details with official forms and instructions from the Minnesota Department of Revenue or the IRS. Online Taxes (OLT) provides guidance based on current tax rules but does not guarantee accuracy for individual circumstances.