26 U.S.C. § 21
(a) Allowance of credit
(2) Applicable percentage defined For purposes of paragraph (1), the term “applicable percentage” means 50 percent—
(b) Definitions of qualifying individual and employment-related expenses For purposes of this section—
(1) Qualifying individual The term “qualifying individual” means—
(2) Employment-related expenses
(A) In general The term “employment-related expenses” means amounts paid for the following expenses, but only if such expenses are incurred to enable the taxpayer to be gainfully employed for any period for which there are 1 or more qualifying individuals with respect to the taxpayer:
Such term shall not include any amount paid for services outside the taxpayer’s household at a camp where the qualifying individual stays overnight.
(B) Exception Employment-related expenses described in subparagraph (A) which are incurred for services outside the taxpayer’s household shall be taken into account only if incurred for the care of—
(C) Dependent care centers Employment-related expenses described in subparagraph (A) which are incurred for services provided outside the taxpayer’s household by a dependent care center (as defined in subparagraph (D)) shall be taken into account only if—
(D) Dependent care center defined For purposes of this paragraph, the term “dependent care center” means any facility which—
(c) Dollar limit on amount creditable The amount of the employment-related expenses incurred during any taxable year which may be taken into account under subsection (a) shall not exceed—
The amount determined under paragraph (1) or (2) (whichever is applicable) shall be reduced by the aggregate amount excludable from gross income under section 129 for the taxable year.
(d) Earned income limitation
(1) In general Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the amount of the employment-related expenses incurred during any taxable year which may be taken into account under subsection (a) shall not exceed—
(2) Special rule for spouse who is a student or incapable of caring for himself In the case of a spouse who is a student or a qualifying individual described in subsection (b)(1)(C), for purposes of paragraph (1), such spouse shall be deemed for each month during which such spouse is a full-time student at an educational institution, or is such a qualifying individual, to be gainfully employed and to have earned income of not less than—
In the case of any husband and wife, this paragraph shall apply with respect to only one spouse for any one month.
(e) Special rules For purposes of this section—
(4) Certain married individuals living apart If—
(A) an individual who is married and who files a separate return—
such individual shall not be considered as married.
(5) Special dependency test in case of divorced parents, etc. If—
in the case of any taxable year beginning in such calendar year, such child shall be treated as a qualifying individual described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of subsection (b)(1) (whichever is appropriate) with respect to the custodial parent (as defined in section 152(e)(4)(A)), and shall not be treated as a qualifying individual with respect to the noncustodial parent.
(6) Payments to related individuals No credit shall be allowed under subsection (a) for any amount paid by the taxpayer to an individual—
For purposes of this paragraph, the term “taxable year” means the taxable year of the taxpayer in which the service is performed.
(9) Identifying information required with respect to service provider No credit shall be allowed under subsection (a) for any amount paid to any person unless—
In the case of a failure to provide the information required under the preceding sentence, the preceding sentence shall not apply if it is shown that the taxpayer exercised due diligence in attempting to provide the information so required.
(g) Special rules for 2021 In the case of any taxable year beginning after , and before —
(2) Increase in dollar limit on amount creditable Subsection (c) shall be applied—
(3) Increase in applicable percentage Subsection (a)(2) shall be applied—
(4) Application of phaseout to high income individuals
(h) Application of credit in possessions
(3) Coordination with credit allowed against United States income taxes In the case of any taxable year beginning in or with 2021, no credit shall be allowed under this section to any individual—
(Added Pub. L. 94–455, title V, § 504(a)(1), , 90 Stat. 1563, § 44A; amended Pub. L. 95–600, title I, § 121(a), , 92 Stat. 2779; Pub. L. 97–34, title I § 124 (a)–(d), , 95 Stat. 197, 198; Pub. L. 98–21, title I, § 122(c)(1), , 97 Stat. 87; renumbered § 21 and amended Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title IV, §§ 423(c)(4), 471(c), 474(c), , 98 Stat. 801, 826, 830; Pub. L. 99–514, title I, § 104(b)(1), , 100 Stat. 2104; Pub. L. 100–203, title X, § 10101(a), , 101 Stat. 1330–384; Pub. L. 100–485, title VII, § 703(a)–(c)(1), , 102 Stat. 2426, 2427; Pub. L. 104–188, title I, § 1615(b), , 110 Stat. 1853; Pub. L. 107–16, title II, § 204(a), (b), , 115 Stat. 49; Pub. L. 107–147, title IV, § 418(b), , 116 Stat. 57; Pub. L. 108–311, title II, §§ 203, 207(2), (3), , 118 Stat. 1175, 1177; Pub. L. 109–135, title IV, § 404(b), , 119 Stat. 2634; Pub. L. 110–172, § 11(a)(1), , 121 Stat. 2484; Pub. L. 117–2, title IX, § 9631(a), (b), , 135 Stat. 159; Pub. L. 119–21, title VII, § 70405(a), , 139 Stat. 214.)
A prior section 21 was renumbered section 15 of this title.
2025—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 119–21 amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “For purposes of paragraph (1), the term ‘applicable percentage’ means 35 percent reduced (but not below 20 percent) by 1 percentage point for each $2,000 (or fraction thereof) by which the taxpayer’s adjusted gross income for the taxable year exceeds $15,000.”
2021—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 117–2, § 9631(a), added subsec. (g).
Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 117–2, § 9631(b), added subsec. (h).
2007—Subsec. (e)(5). Pub. L. 110–172 substituted “section 152(e)(4)(A)” for “section 152(e)(3)(A)” in concluding provisions.
2005—Subsec. (b)(1)(B). Pub. L. 109–135 inserted “(as defined in section 152, determined without regard to subsections (b)(1), (b)(2), and (d)(1)(B))” after “dependent of the taxpayer”.
2004—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 108–311, § 203(a), substituted “In the case of an individual for which there are 1 or more qualifying individuals (as defined in subsection (b)(1)) with respect to such individual” for “In the case of an individual who maintains a household which includes as a member one or more qualifying individuals (as defined in subsection (b)(1))”.
Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 108–311, § 203(b), reenacted heading without change and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The term ‘qualifying individual’ means—
“(A) a dependent of the taxpayer who is under the age of 13 and with respect to whom the taxpayer is entitled to a deduction under section 151(c),
“(B) a dependent of the taxpayer who is physically or mentally incapable of caring for himself, or
“(C) the spouse of the taxpayer, if he is physically or mentally incapable of caring for himself.”
Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 108–311, § 203(c), amended heading and text of par. (1) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “An individual shall be treated as maintaining a household for any period only if over half the cost of maintaining the household for such period is furnished by such individual (or, if such individual is married during such period, is furnished by such individual and his spouse).”
Subsec. (e)(5). Pub. L. 108–311, § 207(2), struck out “paragraph (2) or (4) of” before “section 152(e)” in subpar. (A) and substituted “as defined in section 152(e)(3)(A)” for “within the meaning of section 152(e)(1)” in concluding provisions.
Subsec. (e)(6)(B). Pub. L. 108–311, § 207(3), substituted “section 152(f)(1)” for “section 151(c)(3)”.
2002—Subsec. (d)(2)(A). Pub. L. 107–147, § 418(b)(1), substituted “$250” for “$200”.
Subsec. (d)(2)(B). Pub. L. 107–147, § 418(b)(2), substituted “$500” for “$400”.
2001—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 107–16, § 204(b), substituted “35 percent” for “30 percent” and “$15,000” for “$10,000”.
Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 107–16, § 204(a)(1), substituted “$3,000” for “$2,400”.
Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 107–16, § 204(a)(2), substituted “$6,000” for “$4,800”.
1996—Subsec. (e)(10). Pub. L. 104–188 added par. (10).
1988—Subsec. (b)(1)(A). Pub. L. 100–485, § 703(a), substituted “age of 13” for “age of 15”.
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 100–485, § 703(b), inserted at end: “The amount determined under paragraph (1) or (2) (whichever is applicable) shall be reduced by the aggregate amount excludable from gross income under section 129 for the taxable year.”
Subsec. (e)(5)(B). Pub. L. 100–485, § 703(a), substituted “age of 13” for “age of 15”.
Subsec. (e)(9). Pub. L. 100–485, § 703(c)(1), added par. (9).
1987—Subsec. (b)(2)(A). Pub. L. 100–203 inserted at end “Such term shall not include any amount paid for services outside the taxpayer’s household at a camp where the qualifying individual stays overnight.”
1986—Subsecs. (b)(1)(A), (e)(6)(A). Pub. L. 99–514, § 104(b)(1)(A), substituted “section 151(c)” for “section 151(e)”.
Subsec. (e)(6)(B). Pub. L. 99–514, § 104(b)(1)(B), substituted “section 151(c)(3)” for “section 151(e)(3)”.
1984—Pub. L. 98–369, § 471(c), renumbered section 44A of this title as this section.
Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 98–369, § 474(c)(2), (3), substituted “subsection (b)(1)” for “subsection (c)(1)” and “subsection (b)(2)” for “subsection (c)(2)”.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 98–369, § 474(c)(1), redesignated subsec. (c) as (b). Former subsec. (b), which provided that the credit allowed by subsec. (a) could not exceed the amount of the tax imposed by this chapter for the taxable year reduced by the sum of the credits allowable under sections 33, 37, 38, 40, 41, 42, and 44, was struck out.
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 98–369, § 474(c)(1), redesignated subsec. (d) as (c). Former subsec. (c) redesignated (b).
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 98–369, § 474(c)(1), redesignated subsec. (e) as (d). Former subsec. (d) redesignated (c).
Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 98–369, § 474(c)(4), substituted “subsection (b)(1)(C)” for “subsection (c)(1)(C)” in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (d)(2)(A). Pub. L. 98–369, § 474(c)(5), substituted “subsection (c)(1)” for “subsection (d)(1)”.
Subsec. (d)(2)(B). Pub. L. 98–369, § 474(c)(6), substituted “subsection (c)(2)” for “subsection (d)(2).
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 98–369, § 474(c)(1), redesignated subsec. (f) as (e). Former subsec. (e) redesignated (d).
Subsec. (e)(5). Pub. L. 98–369, § 474(c)(7), substituted “subsection (b)(1)” for “subsection (c)(1)” in provisions following subpar. (B).
Pub. L. 98–369, § 423(c)(4), amended par. (5) generally, substituting subpars. (A) and (B) reading:
“(A) paragraph (2) or (4) of section 152(e) applies to any child with respect to any calendar year, and
“(B) such child is under the age of 15 or is physically or mentally incapable of caring for himself,”
for former provisions:
“(A) a child (as defined in section 151(e)(3)) who is under the age of 15 or who is physically or mentally incapable of caring for himself receives over half of his support during the calendar year from his parents who are divorced or legally separated under a decree of divorce or separate maintenance or who are separated under a written separation agreement, and
“(B) such child is in the custody of one or both of his parents for more than one-half of the calendar year.”
and substituted in concluding text “(whichever is appropriate) with respect to the custodial parent (within the meaning of section 152(e)(1)), and shall not be treated as a qualifying individual with respect to the noncustodial parent” for “, as the case may be, with respect to that parent who has custody for a longer period during such calendar year than the other parent, and shall not be treated as being a qualifying individual with respect to such other parent.”
Subsecs. (f), (g). Pub. L. 98–369, § 474(c)(1), redesignated subsecs. (f) and (g) as (e) and (f), respectively.
1983—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 98–21 substituted “relating to credit for the elderly and the permanently and totally disabled” for “relating to credit for the elderly”.
1981—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 97–34, § 124(a), designated existing provisions as par. (1), substituted “the applicable percentage” for “20 percent” in par. (1) as so designated, and added par. (2).
Subsec. (c)(2)(B). Pub. L. 97–34, § 124(c), designated existing provisions as cl. (i) and added cl. (ii).
Subsec. (c)(2)(C), (D). Pub. L. 97–34, § 124(d), added subpars. (C) and (D).
Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 97–34, § 124(b)(1)(A), substituted “$2,400” for “$2,000”.
Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 97–34, § 124(b)(1)(B), substituted “$4,800” for “$4,000”.
Subsec. (e)(2)(A). Pub. L. 97–34, § 124(b)(2)(A), substituted “$200” for “$166”.
Subsec. (e)(2)(B). Pub. L. 97–34, § 124(b)(2)(B), substituted “$400” for “$333”.
1978—Subsec. (f)(6). Pub. L. 95–600 substituted provision disallowing a credit for any amount paid by a taxpayer to an individual with respect to whom, for the taxable year, a deduction under section 151(e) is allowable either to the taxpayer or his spouse or who is a child of the taxpayer who has not attained the age of 19 at the close of the taxpayer year and defining “taxpayer year” for provision disallowing a credit for any amount paid by the taxpayer to an individual bearing a relationship described in section 152(a)(1) through (8), or a dependent described in section 152(a)(9), except that a credit was allowed for an amount paid by a taxpayer to an individual with respect to whom, for the taxable year of the taxpayer in which the service was performed, neither the taxpayer nor his spouse was entitled to a deduction under section 151(e), provided the service constituted employment within the meaning of section 3121(b).
Pub. L. 119–21, title VII, § 70405(b), , 139 Stat. 215, provided that:
“The amendment made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to taxable years beginning after
December 31, 2025.”
Pub. L. 117–2, title IX, § 9631(d), , 135 Stat. 160, provided that:
“The amendments made by this section [amending this section,
section 6211 of this title and
section 1324 of Title 31, Money and Finance] shall apply to taxable years beginning after
December 31, 2020.”
Pub. L. 109–135, title IV, § 404(d), , 119 Stat. 2634, provided that:
“The amendments made by this section [amending this section and sections 152 and 223 of this title] shall take effect as if included in the provisions of the Working Families Tax Relief Act of 2004 [
Pub. L. 108–311] to which they relate.”
Amendment by Pub. L. 108–311 applicable to taxable years beginning after , see section 208 of Pub. L. 108–311, set out as a note under section 2 of this title.
Pub. L. 107–147, title IV, § 418(c), , 116 Stat. 58, provided that:
“The amendments made by this section [amending this section and sections 23 and 137 of this title] shall take effect as if included in the provisions of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 [
Pub. L. 107–16] to which they relate.”
Pub. L. 107–16, title II, § 204(c), , 115 Stat. 50, provided that:
“The amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to taxable years beginning after
December 31, 2002.”
Pub. L. 104–188, title I, § 1615(d), , 110 Stat. 1853, provided that:
- “(1) In general.— The amendments made by this section [amending this section and sections 151, 6109, 6213, and 6724 of this title] shall apply with respect to returns the due date for which (without regard to extensions) is on or after the 30th day after the date of the enactment of this Act [].
- “(2) Special rule for 1995 and 1996.— In the case of returns for taxable years beginning in 1995 or 1996, a taxpayer shall not be required by the amendments made by this section to provide a taxpayer identification number for a child who is born after , in the case of a taxable year beginning in 1995 or , in the case of a taxable year beginning in 1996.”
Pub. L. 100–485, title VII, § 703(d), , 102 Stat. 2427, provided that:
“The amendments made by this section [amending this section and sections 129 and 6109 of this title] shall apply to taxable years beginning after
December 31, 1988.”
Pub. L. 100–203, title X, § 10101(b), , 101 Stat. 1330–384, as amended by Pub. L. 100–647, title II, § 2004(a), , 102 Stat. 3598, provided that:
- “(1) In general.— The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply to expenses paid in taxable years beginning after .
- “(2) Special rule for cafeteria plans.— For purposes of section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, a plan shall not be treated as failing to be a cafeteria plan solely because under the plan a participant elected before , to receive reimbursement under the plan for dependent care assistance for periods after , and such assistance included reimbursement for expenses at a camp where the dependent stays overnight.”
Amendment by Pub. L. 99–514 applicable to taxable years beginning after , see section 151(a) of Pub. L. 99–514, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.
Amendment by section 423(c)(4) of Pub. L. 98–369 applicable to taxable years beginning after , see section 423(d) of Pub. L. 98–369, set out as a note under section 2 of this title.
Pub. L. 98–369, title IV, § 475(a), , 98 Stat. 847, provided that:
“The amendments made by this title [probably means subtitle F (§§ 471–475) of title IV of
Pub. L. 98–369, which enacted sections 25, 38, and 39 of this title, amended this section and sections 12, 15, 22 to 24, 27 to 35, 37, 39 to 41, 44A, 44C to 44H, 45 to 48, 51, 52, 55, 56, 86, 87, 103, 108, 129, 168, 196, 213, 280C, 381, 383, 401, 404, 409, 441, 527, 642, 691, 874, 882, 901, 904, 936, 1016, 1033, 1351, 1366, 1374, 1375, 1441, 1442, 1451, 3507, 6013, 6096, 6201, 6211, 6213, 6362, 6401, 6411, 6420, 6421, 6427, 6501, 6511, 7701, 7871, 9502, and 9503 of this title, repealed sections 38, 40, 44, 44B, 50A, 50B, and 53 of this title, and enacted provisions set out as notes under sections 30, 33, 46, and 48 of this title] shall apply to taxable years beginning after
December 31, 1983, and to carrybacks from such years.”
Amendment by Pub. L. 98–21 applicable to taxable years beginning after , except that if an individual’s annuity starting date was deferred under section 105(d)(6) of this title as in effect on the day before , such deferral shall end on the first day of such individual’s first taxable year beginning after , see section 122(d) of Pub. L. 98–21, set out as a note under section 22 of this title.
Pub. L. 97–34, title I, § 124(f), , 95 Stat. 201, provided that:
- “(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the amendments made by this section [amending this section and enacting section 129 of this title] shall apply to taxable years beginning after .
- “(2) The amendments made by subsection (e)(2) [amending sections 3121, 3306, and 3401 of this title and section 409 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare] shall apply to remuneration paid after .”
Pub. L. 95–600, title I, § 121(b), , 92 Stat. 2779, provided that:
“The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply to taxable years beginning after
December 31, 1978.”
Section applicable to taxable years beginning after , see section 508 of Pub. L. 94–455, set out as an Effective Date of 1976 Amendment note under section 3 of this title.
Pub. L. 101–508, title XI, § 11114, , 104 Stat. 1388–414, provided that:
“Not later than the first calendar year following the date of the enactment of this subtitle [
Nov. 5, 1990], the Secretary of the Treasury, or the Secretary’s delegate, shall establish a taxpayer awareness program to inform the taxpaying public of the availability of the credit for dependent care allowed under section 21 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the earned income credit and child health insurance under section 32 of such Code. Such public awareness program shall be designed to assure that individuals who may be eligible are informed of the availability of such credit and filing procedures. The Secretary shall use appropriate means of communication to carry out the provisions of this section.”