Americans can score up to $2,100 for summer camp costs – see if you meet the requirements

SELECT Americans could get thousands to cover summer camp costs for their children this year.

It’s all part of a unique benefit, but several crucial requirements must be met to see any money.

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Some parents could get free money to cover summer camp costs (stock image)[/caption]

Known as the Child and Dependent Care Credit, those parents who have children younger than 13 could qualify for financial assistance.

The funds specifically go toward paying summer day camp fees and expenses in an effort to help those Americans who can’t afford to have the time off work.

“Summer day camp expense can be claimed only if the care was necessary for the taxpayer to do work or to look for work,” Brandon Nishnick, manager for tax practice and ethics at the American Institute of CPAs, told USA Today recently.

“The primary purpose must be for child care and the camp must be a daytime-program only.”

That means higher-end, week-long and overnight summer camps wouldn’t apply to the Child and Dependent Care Credit.

Additionally, the credit typically only covers a portion of the costs for daytime summer camps, but it’s free money wasted if not claimed.

ARE YOU ELIGIBLE?

Taxpayers would be able to get the credit when filing taxes for this year, so in the spring of 2026.

They’d complete Form 2441 from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to calculate the exact credit amount alongside their 1040 federal income tax return.

More details on the exact forms and rules are available through IRS Publication 503.

Those who file the form will need to meet the following eligibility criteria, according to Jackson Hewitt Tax Services chief tax officer, Mark Steber.

• Taxpayer is employed or a full-time student
• Has a listed dependent under 13
• The dependent uses a day care or summer day camp
• Valid Social Security Number (SSN) or Federal Identification Number (FIN)

Payment amounts will vary for each taxpayer that qualifies for the Child and Dependent Care Credit.

The IRS calculates it as a percentage of qualifying expenses, and that ranges between 20% to 35%.

PAYMENT AMOUNTS

Qualifying expenses are strictly associated with what costs would be for time spent working or looking for work, not for babysitting to go do something fun during the warm months.

With one child under 13, a maximum expense threshold is typically $3,000, and two or more is set at $6,000.

That means the maximum credit for a taxpayer with one child under 13 is around $1,050, and for those with two or more its $2,100.

Again, these numbers vary, as the value of the credit decreases as a taxpayer’s income increases.

NO REFUNDS

Taxpayers should also consider that the Child and Dependent Care Credit is nonrefundable.

That means that it can only reduce taxes owed to $0.

So if someone owed $1,000 and got the $2,100 credit, it would only cover the $1,000, with no $1,100 credit leftover.

The best thing for Americans who feel they might qualify for the credit to do is keep a detailed record of summer day camp expenses.

Then, when tax season rolls around again this spring, they’re prepared to take full advantage of the Child and Dependent Care Credit.

Millions of Americans are also getting one-time payments worth up to $400 this summer with no strings attached.

A new round of $1,702 “permanent” stimulus checks are also hitting the bank accounts of some taxpayers this month.