3 Tips for Claiming Summer Camp Expenses on Your Taxes

When sending a child to summer camp, you may qualify for the child and dependent care tax credit. This tax credit provides a break for many parents who wish to have assistance taking care of their children while working or looking for work.

Learn About Care Credits

Care credits work to assist parents with the expenses of raising a family. The money received varies in relation to the parent’s income. With one child or dependent, the taxpayer is qualified for a tax credit of up to $3,000, with two or more dependents $6,000.

Find Out If You Qualify

Some of the qualifying factors for the care credit are: being the main caretaker, the child must be under 13 years old or disabled, and the caretaker cannot be a parent of the child. Research what qualifying factors you can fulfill when considering the child and dependent care credit.

Discover What Types of Camps Qualify

Determining a summer camp for your dependent should involve seeing if the camp qualifies for the care credit. Even if the program is a sports camp it can still qualify if the time occurs when the parent is at work or in search for work. Camps where kids stay overnight do not qualify toward the tax credit.

Conclusion

When worried about the cost of summer camp, remember the tax breaks involved with the child and dependent care credit. Using this credit can help to increase your refund and give you money to spend on other childcare expenses.

Image credit: Bhanu Tadinada