Tax Dictionary
Dependent-care expense
A credit against tax is allowed for employment-related expenses paid by an individual to enable him or her to be gainfully employed. Taxpayers with adjusted gross incomes of $15,000 or less are allowed a credit equal to 35 percent of employment-related expenses. For taxpayers with adjusted gross incomes of over $15,000 through $43,000, the credit is reduced by one percentage point for each $2,000 of adjusted gross income, or fraction thereof, above $15,000. For taxpayers with adjusted gross incomes of over $43,000, the credit is 20 percent of employment-related expenses. The maximum amount of employment-related expenses to which the credit can apply is $3,000 if one child or dependent is involved and $6,000 if two or more are involved.