Can I claim child dependent care credit? (2014, daycare)

[dadasaheb]

My wife was stay home mother during 2014. I (Father) was working full time. My 2 year age daughter was in Kindercare for about 4 hours a day everyday (Mon to fri). My wife (mother) was not looking for work during that time. I was working full time. Can I claim child or dependent care credit or not? Please help.

[lonestar12]

Absolutely, you can claim credit.

Doesn't matter if your wife was working or not.

[keribeth818]

I'll go on the record and say Im pretty sure you can't . You have to have a reason for needing the child care. Search for work, plan to return to work if there's an unemployment gap, or both working. But hey, maybe I need to go back and revisit my taxes the last few years.

[bencronin04]

Depends on how you all are filing. #2 & #3

Ten Things to Know About the Child and Dependent Care Credit

[dadasaheb]

Thanks for the replies. I read through the instructions and it said that if both spouse and you are working then you can claim or if disabled. But there is one more point which specifies that you can claim the pre-school fees before kindergarten, hence there is a confusion whether it can be claimed if husband is working and wife is not working and kid is in "Kindercare".

[keribeth818]

Yes, preschool tuition is eligible, similar to daycare, but you still have to meet the requirements. For example, I can have my child in Moms Day Out and use that time to actively search for work and then claim that tuition for the credit. It doesnt have to be full time care.