Adoption Credit
In 2010 and 2011, you may be able to take a refundable tax credit for qualifying expenses (up to $13,170) paid to adopt an eligible child (including a child with special needs). This means that you could qualify for a tax refund even if you did not have federal income tax withheld. For tax years prior to 2010, the adoption credit is not refundable.
Under new Adoption Credit Rules for the 2010 tax year, you must attach one or more adoption-related documents (identified in the form instructions) with the completed Form 8839 (PDF), Qualified Adoption Expenses, and attach the form to your Form 1040 or Form 1040A return, to claim the adoption credit or income exclusion. The required documents are different if the adoption is foreign, or domestic, final or not final and if the adoption is for a special-needs child.
Here are seven things the IRS wants you to know about the expanded adoption credit.
- Beginning in tax year 2010 the credit is refundable, meaning that you can get it even if you owe no tax.
- For tax year 2010 you must file a paper tax return and Form 8839, Qualified Adoption Expenses, to get the credit and you must attach documents supporting the adoption.
- Documents may include a final adoption decree, placement agreement from an authorized agency, court documents and the state’s determination for special needs children.
- Qualified adoption expenses are reasonable and necessary expenses directly related to the legal adoption of the child. These expenses may include adoption fees, court costs, attorney fees and travel expenses.
- An eligible child must be under 18 years old, or physically or mentally incapable of caring for himself or herself.
- If your modified adjusted gross income is more than $182,520, your credit is reduced. If your modified AGI is $222,520 or more, you cannot take the credit.
- Taxpayers claiming the credit will still be able to use IRS Free File to prepare their returns, but the returns must be printed and mailed to the IRS, along with all required documentation.
You can read further about this credit at this link: http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc607.html
2013 UPDATE
Ten Facts about Adoption-Related Tax Savings
In April 2013, the IRS issued the following concerning the adoption credit:
Adoption can create new families or expand existing ones. The expenses of adopting a child may also lower your federal tax. If you recently adopted or attempted to adopt a child, you may be eligible for a tax credit. You may also be eligible to exclude some of your income from tax. Here are ten things the IRS wants you to know about adoption tax benefits.
- The maximum adoption tax credit and exclusion for 2012 is $12,650 per eligible child.
- To be eligible, a child must generally be under 18 years old. There is an exception to this rule for children who are physically or mentally unable to care for themselves.
- For 2012, the tax credit is nonrefundable. This means that, while the credit may reduce your tax to zero, you cannot receive any additional amount in the form of a refund.
- If your credit exceeds your tax, you may be able to carryforward the unused credit. This means that if you have an unused credit amount in 2012, you can use it to reduce your taxes for 2013. You can carryover an unused credit for up to five years or until you fully use the credit, whichever comes first.
- Use Form 8839, Qualified Adoption Expenses, to claim the adoption credit and exclusion. Although you cannot file your tax return with Form 8839 electronically, the IRS encourages you to use e-file software to prepare your return. E-file makes tax preparation easier and accurate. You can then print and mail your paper federal tax return to the IRS.
- Adoption expenses must directly relate to the legal adoption of the child and they must be reasonable and necessary. Expenses that qualify include adoption fees, court costs, attorney fees and travel costs.
- If you adopted an eligible U.S. child with special needs and the adoption is final, a special rule applies. You may be able to take the tax credit even if you did not pay any qualified adoption expenses. See the instructions for Form 8839 for more information about this rule.
- If your employer has a written qualified adoption assistance program, you may be eligible to exclude some of your income from tax.
- Depending on the adoption’s cost, you may be able to claim both the tax credit and the exclusion. However, you cannot claim both a credit and exclusion for the same expenses. This rule prevents you from claiming both tax benefits for the same expense.
- The credit and exclusion are subject to income limitations. The limits may reduce or eliminate the amount you can claim depending on your income.
For more information, visit the IRS.gov website to see the Adoption Benefits FAQ page. Also, check out Form 8839 and its instructions. Both are available at IRS.gov or you can order the form by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).
Additional IRS Resources:
- Adoption Benefits FAQs
- Form 8839, Qualified Adoption Expenses
- Adoption Tax Credit