How does the tax system subsidize child care expenses? Q.How does the tax system subsidize child care expenses? A.Working parents are eligible for two tax benefits to offset child care costs: the child and dependent care tax credit and the exclusion for employer-provided child care. The credit benefits only a small share of parents because relatively few have formal child care expenses that qualify for the credit. Read more about How does the tax system subsidize child care expenses?
Can poor families benefit from the child tax credit? Q.Can poor families benefit from the child tax credit? A.Yes. Low-income families can receive a refundable child tax credit equal to 15 percent of earnings above $2,500, up to a maximum credit of $1,600. Read more about Can poor families benefit from the child tax credit?
What is the child tax credit? Q.What is the child tax credit? A.The child tax credit provides a credit of up to $2,000 per child under age 17. If the credit exceeds taxes owed, families may receive up to $1,600 per child as a refund. Other dependents—including children ages 17–18 and full-time college students ages 19–24—can receive a nonrefundable credit of up to $500 each. Read more about What is the child tax credit?