Help with childcare.....

[tmahanes]

I am going back to work next week and one of my friends is going to keep my son instead of doing daycare. Anyone else do this?? and if so can you help me with a few questions??

How do you pay... once a week? once a month? check/cash?

What information do you need to claim the childcare expenses on your taxes? Are there any other things I should know about paying her?

And just curious.... how much do you pay if you don't mind sharing??

TIA!!!!!

Tara

[Andi98989]

My mom watches DS for me; I pay her a $20/day but write her a check at the end of the week. I attempt to provide all of DS's diapers and food, but the woman is relentless in going out and getting stuff for him.

We haven't messed around with claiming anything on taxes because I think to do that she would also need to claim the income. I was told that I could pay her out of a dependent care account with pre-tax dollars if she gave me receipts and stuff.

[Penny's Pappa]

The IRS Site for the Child Care Tax Credit, as well as relevant IRS publications, can be found here:

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=106189,00.html

[MolieMuts]

My mom watches DS for me; I pay her a $20/day but write her a check at the end of the week. I attempt to provide all of DS's diapers and food, but the woman is relentless in going out and getting stuff for him.

This is what we did. A friend of mine retired and she watched Ds1, along with one other toddler, until he was 18 mos. We reported with the IRS under dependent childcare. I believe all we needed was her name, ss#, address and the amount we paid for the year and she reported the same.