Can Vpk Receive Child Care Credit?

Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) is a free education program in Florida designed to prepare four-year-olds for kindergarten and build the foundation for their educational journey. Eligible children must live in Florida and be 4 years old on or before September 1 of the current school year. If their fourth birthday falls between February 2 and September 1, parents can postpone enrolling their child in VPK that year and wait until the following year when they turn 4. High-quality VPK providers deliver age-appropriate curricula, including early literacy and math standards, in manageable class sizes led by qualified instructors. The school-year VPK program provides 540 hours of instructional time FREE to families.

To register for VPK, parents/guardians must be Florida residents and their children must turn 4 years old on or before September 1st of the current school year. Families can choose from private child care centers or public schools and can choose from school year or summer programs. Children with special needs may also qualify for VPK.

Preschool tuition counts for the Child and Dependent Care credit, which allows qualified parents and guardians to deduct preschool, nursery-school, and pre-K costs with IRS Form 2441. However, expenses for a before- or after-school care program of a child in kindergarten or a higher grade may qualify, even though the child is under age 13.

The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit is for caregivers with expenses related to caring for a dependent while they work or look for work. Families earning less than $15,000 can claim a credit for up to 35 of eligible expenses, gradually decreasing to 20 of eligible expenses.