Nonrefundable Child and Dependent Care Expenses Credit
The Nonrefundable Child and Dependent Care Expenses Credit is available to California taxpayers who incur expenses for the care of a qualifying child or dependent to enable them to work or look for work. This credit is nonrefundable, meaning it can reduce your tax liability but cannot result in a refund if it exceeds the amount of tax owed.
Eligibility Requirements
- You must have paid for care services for a qualifying child or dependent under age 13, or a disabled dependent of any age.
- The care must have been provided in California.
- You must have earned income (or your spouse must have earned income if filing jointly).
- The care provider must be a person or organization that provides care in California.
How to Claim the Credit
To claim this credit, you must complete and attach Form FTB 3506, Child and Dependent Care Expenses Credit, to your California state tax return (Form 540 or Form 540NR).
- Enter the name, address, and taxpayer identification number (TIN) of each care provider on Form FTB 3506, Line 1.
- Report the total qualified expenses paid for care on Line 2.
- Complete the worksheet on Side 2 of Form FTB 3506 to calculate the credit amount based on your income and expenses.
Important Notes
- This credit is nonrefundable and cannot be claimed on Form 540 2EZ.
- If you used modified federal AGI to compute the credit, write “MPA” to the left of the credit amount on Form FTB 3506, Line 12.
- Only care provided in California qualifies for this credit.
Reporting on California Tax Return
The credit is reported on Form 540, Line 40, under the code “232” for Nonrefundable Child and Dependent Care Expenses Credit. If you are a nonresident or part-year resident, use Form 540NR and report the credit accordingly.
Source:
Form FTB 3506 Instructions
Form 540 Booklet
Form 540NR Booklet
Publication 1032
Disclaimer: Always verify details with official forms and instructions from the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) or your local Department of Revenue. OLT (Online Taxes) provides guidance based on retrieved information but does not guarantee accuracy for all individual circumstances.