Which of the following statements about the child and dependent care credit is correct?

 

a.The maximum credit is $600.

b.The credit is nonrefundable.

c.The child must be under the age of 18 years.

d.The child must be a direct descendant of the taxpayer.Explanation

Choice "b" is correct. The child and dependent care credit is nonrefundable. The only refundable credits are the child tax credit (which is a different credit with a similar name), the earned income credit, withholding taxes, portions of the Hope Scholarship credit, and excess Social Security taxes paid. The child and dependent care credit is a "personal" tax credit.

 

Choice "c" is incorrect. The child must be under age 13, not age 18, to be a qualifying child and for there to be a credit.

 

Choice "d" is incorrect. The child need not be a direct descendant of the taxpayer for there to be a credit. To be a qualifying child, the child must merely be a dependent of the taxpayer.

 

Choice "a" is incorrect. The maximum child and dependent care credit is 35% of eligible expenses, with a phase out for AGI over $15,000. There is no pure $600 limit.