Bookmark and Share

IRS.gov Banner
IRS Tax Tips April 3, 2024

Useful Links:

IRS.gov

Help For Hurricane Victims


News Essentials

What's Hot

News Releases

IRS - The Basics

IRS Guidance

Media Contacts

Facts & Figures

Around The Nation

e-News Subscriptions


The Newsroom Topics

Multimedia?Center

Noticias en Espa?ol

Radio PSAs

Tax Scams/Consumer Alerts

The Tax Gap

Fact?Sheets

IRS Tax Tips

Armed Forces

Latest News


IRS Resources

Contact?Your Local IRS?Office

Filing Your Taxes

Forms & Instructions

Frequently Asked Questions

Taxpayer Advocate Service

Where to File

IRS Social Media

?


Issue Number: Tax Tip 2024-26


Adoptive parents: Don?t forget about the Adoption Tax Credit

Taxpayers who adopted or started the adoption process in 2023 may qualify for the adoption credit. This credit can be applied to international, domestic, private and public foster care adoption.

Here is some basic information to help people understand this credit and whether they can claim it when they are filing their taxes:

  • The maximum adoption credit taxpayers can claim on their 2023 tax return is $15,950 per eligible child.
  • There are income limits that could affect the amount of the credit.
  • Taxpayers should complete Form 8839, Qualified Adoption Expenses, to figure how much credit they can claim on their tax return.
  • An eligible child must be younger than 18. If the adopted person is older, they must be unable to physically take care of themselves.
  • This credit is non-refundable. This means the amount of the credit is limited to the taxpayer's taxes due for 2023. Any credit left over from their owed 2023 taxes can be carried forward for up to five years.
  • Qualified expenses include:
    • Reasonable and necessary adoption fees.
    • Court costs and legal fees.
    • Adoption related travel expenses like meals and lodging.
    • Other expenses directly related to the legal adoption of an eligible child.
  • In some cases, a registered domestic partner may pay the adoption expenses. If they live in a state that allows a same-sex second parent or co-parent to adopt their partner's child, these may also be considered qualified expenses.
  • Expenses may qualify even if the taxpayer pays them before an eligible child is identified. For example, some future adoptive parents pay for a home study at the beginning of the adoption process. These parents can claim the fees as qualified adoption expenses.
  • Taxpayers who adopt their spouse's child can't claim this credit.

?

More information
Adoption Taxpayer Identification Number

?

Back to top

?


FaceBook Logo??YouTube Logo ?Instagram Logo? Twitter Logo ?LinkedIn Logo


Thank you for subscribing to IRS Tax Tips, an IRS e-mail service. For more information on federal taxes please visit IRS.gov.

This message was distributed automatically from the IRS Tax Tips mailing list. Please Do Not Reply To This Message.

?


This email was sent to [email protected] by: Internal Revenue Service (IRS) ? Internal Revenue Service ? 1111 Constitution Ave. N.W. ? Washington, D.C. 20535 GovDelivery logo