Pennsylvania Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit: $600-$2,100 Before April 15

Shapiro Administration Encourages Pennsylvanians to Take Advantage of Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit Before April 15th Tax Filing Deadline

Governor Josh Shapiro worked to triple the relief that is available through the Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit, which can provide up to $2,100 to eligible Pennsylvanians.

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Pennsylvanians can apply for the credit when filing their 2025 state tax returns online for free through myPATH .

April 10, 2026
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Harrisburg, PA — With the deadline for filing taxes next week, the Shapiro Administration is encouraging eligible Pennsylvanians to take advantage of the Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit . This is a state-level tax credit that puts money back into the pockets of working families with children in daycare and Pennsylvanians caring for a dependent.

Governor Josh Shapiro worked to triple the relief available through the Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit. The expansion of the credit is one of seven tax cuts the Governor has implemented since taking office.

Eligible Pennsylvanians can receive between $600 and $2,100, depending on their income level and number of dependents. Visit pa.gov/childcarecredit for more information and learn how you can take advantage of the credit when you’re filing your PA Personal Income Tax Return (PA-40) before the April 15th tax filing deadline. The Department of Revenue is also extending its call center customer service hours to provide additional phone assistance to Pennsylvanians.

“Since the day he took office, Governor Shapiro has made it a priority to cut taxes and lower costs for working families. The Governor fought for an expansion of the Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit because this is a proven program that last year delivered $139 million to nearly 222,000 Pennsylvanians,” said Secretary of Revenue Pat Browne. “We strongly encourage all qualified taxpayers with dependents to take advantage of this credit when filing their personal income tax returns before the tax deadline on April 15th. Our team at the Department of Revenue is here to help everyone who is eligible claim the credit and receive money back on their taxes that can make a real difference.”

Who Qualifies for this Credit?

The state Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit is based off the federal Child Care Tax Credit. The state credit was expanded thanks to the work of Governor Shapiro, who pushed for the state credit to be equal to 100% of the federal credit. Here’s what that amounts to for eligible Pennsylvanians:

• Maximum credit: $1,050 (one child/dependent) or $2,100 (two or more).
• Minimum credit: $600 (one child/dependent) or $1,200 (two or more), provided expenses are at least $3,000 per child/dependent.

• The credit cap decreases as income levels increase.
  To claim the Pennsylvania Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Credit, you must have incurred care expenses for:

• A dependent child under age 13.

• A spouse who was physically or mentally incapable of self-care and lived with you for more than half the year.

• An individual who was physically or mentally incapable of self-care, lived with you for more than half the year, and either:

  • Was your dependent; or
  • Could have been your dependent, except that he or she received gross income of $4,400 or more, filed a joint return, or could have been claimed as a dependent on another taxpayer’s return. The credit is refundable, meaning qualified taxpayers will earn the full amount of the credit in a refund, after accounting for any tax obligation due.

Filing Available Through myPATH

Eligible Pennsylvanians can claim the Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit when filing their Pennsylvania Personal Income Tax Return (PA-40). When filing, they will need to complete the PA Schedule DC form to report information based on their dependents and the expenses incurred for their care. Additionally, completed versions of Federal Form 2441 and 1040 Schedule 3 must be attached to the PA-40.

You can file your PA-40 — in English or Spanish — for free using myPATH, the Department of Revenue’s free online filing system. Many taxpayers can file the PA-40 without the need to create a username or password. myPATH also allows taxpayers to make income tax payments and check the status of their refunds.

The deadline to file 2025 personal income tax returns is Wednesday, April 15.

Department of Revenue Media Contacts

Press Contact Information

ra-press@pa.gov 717-787-6960 Department of Revenue Media