What are tax credits and how do they differ from tax deductions? Q.What are tax credits and how do they differ from tax deductions? A.Credits reduce taxes directly and do not depend on tax rates. Deductions reduce taxable income; their value thus depends on the taxpayer’s marginal tax rate, which rises with income. Read more about What are tax credits and how do they differ from tax deductions?
How does the tax system subsidize child care expenses? Q.How does the tax system subsidize child care expenses? A.Working parents are eligible for two tax benefits to offset child care costs: the child and dependent care tax credit and the exclusion for employer-provided child care. The credit benefits only a small share of parents because relatively few have formal child care expenses that qualify for the credit. Read more about How does the tax system subsidize child care expenses?
What is the child tax credit? Q.What is the child tax credit? A.The child tax credit provides a credit of up to $2,000 per child under age 17. If the credit exceeds taxes owed, families may receive up to $1,600 per child as a refund. Other dependents—including children ages 17–18 and full-time college students ages 19–24—can receive a nonrefundable credit of up to $500 each. Read more about What is the child tax credit?