Child care is one of the biggest expenses many families face. In most U.S. states, the cost of day care now exceeds public college tuition — and in 17 states, it’s even higher than the average rent.

Korrena Bailie has over a decade of experience reporting and editing personal finance stories and reviews. Her work has been featured in Wirecutter, The New York Times, Bankrate and Credit Karma. Send ...

Fri, August 22, 2025 at 1:11 AM UTC As parents know all too well, child care can be almost prohibitively expensive. U.S. families spend up to $15,600 a year on day care — and that’s for just one child ...

The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit helps offset the costs of care for children under 13 and other qualifying dependents while you work or look for work. For 2026, you can claim a percentage of up ...

Child care costs soar while tax credits barely make a dent.

With just a few days left to file your taxes, make sure you know how to claim the dependent care credit. Thomas is a native of upstate New York and a graduate of the University at Albany. As a former ...

If you’ve paid expenses for day care, preschool or another form of caregiving, there’s a tax break you may want to know about. Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are from our ...