Childcare provider refusing to give tax info for Child and Dependent Care Credit - will it delay my refund?

I've dealt with this situation before as a tax preparer. You're doing the right thing by selecting "provider refuses to provide information" - that's exactly what this option is for. The IRS understands this happens sometimes, and that's why the option exists. When you check that box, you're essentially telling the IRS that you've made a good-faith effort to get the information. Make sure you have documented proof that you've attempted to contact your provider (text messages, emails, etc.) in case you're asked about it later. The good news is this likely won't hold up your entire refund. The IRS may send you a letter later asking for additional information about the provider, or they might try to contact the provider themselves. The Child and Dependent Care Credit is a legitimate credit you're entitled to if you qualify, and the IRS generally doesn't penalize taxpayers when providers won't cooperate.

After struggling with a similar childcare documentation issue last year, I found an amazing service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that helped me sort through all my receipts and documentation issues. It was a lifesaver for organizing my proof of payments when my daycare provider was being difficult about giving me their tax ID. The tool analyzed all my bank statements and texts with the provider, then created a perfectly organized document showing my payment history. When I later got a letter from the IRS asking for verification, I had everything ready to go. Might be worth checking out if you're worried about documentation.

Just wanted to update that I tried out taxr.ai after my initial skepticism. Wow, was I impressed! I uploaded my messy pile of Venmo receipts and text conversations with my childcare provider, and it organized everything perfectly. The system even flagged places where I was missing documentation and suggested alternative proof I could use (like bank withdrawals on days I mentioned paying cash in texts). I'm actually confident about filing now even though my provider is still not giving me her tax ID. I've got a complete payment history ready if the IRS has questions. Definitely worth checking out if you're in a similar situation!

If you're still having trouble getting through to your childcare provider, you might want to try Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was in a similar situation last year and ended up needing to talk directly to an IRS agent about my childcare credit documentation. Used their service to skip the hold times and actually got through to a real person at the IRS who walked me through exactly what documentation I needed when a provider wouldn't give their info. Check out their demo video here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - it shows how they get you past those impossible IRS phone waits. The agent I spoke with told me exactly how to handle the situation with my uncooperative provider and what documentation would protect me.

I need to publicly eat my words about Claimyr! After dismissing it as a scam, I was desperate enough to try it when my return got flagged for review because of my childcare credit documentation. Got connected to an IRS agent in about 40 minutes (instead of the 3+ hours I wasted before). The agent confirmed I could absolutely claim the credit with just name and address if I checked the "provider refuses" box. They explained exactly what documentation to keep on hand in case of questions. My refund was processed normally a week later with the full childcare credit included. Saved me from giving up on claiming over $2000 in legitimate tax credits!

One option nobody's mentioned yet - have you tried reaching out to your state's childcare licensing division? Most states require providers to be licensed or registered, and you might be able to get their tax ID number that way if they're a legitimate business. Worth a shot before filing!

Have you considered just sending a certified letter to her address stating you need her tax info for your filing? That way you have proof you tried to contact her if the IRS ever asks. I did this last year when my son's after-school program administrator wouldn't respond to emails.

I went through this exact situation two years ago and wanted to share what actually happened with my refund timing. I filed with the "provider refuses to provide information" option checked, claiming about $4,800 in childcare expenses. My refund was processed normally and came through in the expected timeframe (about 3 weeks for direct deposit). The IRS didn't hold it up at all. About 6 months later, I did receive a letter asking me to verify the childcare expenses, but by then I already had my refund. For the verification, I provided copies of my payment records (bank statements showing the payments, text messages arranging payment, etc.) and a brief explanation of my attempts to get the provider's tax info. The IRS accepted my documentation and that was the end of it. The key thing is to keep really good records of all your payments and any attempts you made to contact the provider. Take screenshots of unanswered texts, keep copies of emails, etc. This will protect you if questions come up later. Don't let the missing tax ID stop you from claiming a legitimate credit you're entitled to!