Can I claim the Child Care Credit without the caregivers' SSN or EIN?

You can only efile this credit if you have the required information. If you are unable to obtain the required information from your childcare provider, you will be required to paperfile your return to take the credit.

If your childcare provider refuses to supply a social security or EIN number, you can still claim the credit by demonstrating "due diligence" in attempting to secure the needed information, providing you meet other requirements. When your care provider refuses to give the identifying information, you can still claim the credit as long as you provide whatever information that you have obtained (such as name and address) on the form used to claim the credit (Form 2441/Child and Dependent Care Expenses for Form 1040 filers, or Schedule 2/Child and Dependent Care Expenses for Form 1040A filers). You should write "see page 2" in the columns calling for the missing information. Write at the bottom of page 2 that the provider refused to give the requested information. This statement will show that you used due diligence in trying to secure and furnish the necessary information.

However, please note that our program will not support this. You will need to paper file to include the necessary documentation. Please log in and print your completed return, make the above addition and then sign and mail in. Also note that the forms we generate for you are suitable to send to the IRS, however when you paperfile you must send copies of all income reporting forms to the IRS.