Worth Amending 2022 Return for Child Care Credit if I Owe IRS? Having Trouble Finding Someone to Help

Yes, it's absolutely worth amending if you missed the Child and Dependent Care Credit. This is a dollar-for-dollar reduction of your tax liability, not just a deduction. Even if you owe the IRS, an amendment could reduce that amount substantially or potentially generate a refund depending on the credit amount. The deadline to amend 2022 returns is April 15, 2026, so you have time. Most tax preparers are reluctant right now because we're in the middle of the 2023 filing season. Try again in May when the rush is over. As for who does amendments - any licensed tax preparer can handle them. Look for an Enrolled Agent (EA) or CPA who specializes in tax, not just seasonal preparers at big chains.

I'm wondering if you might have some documentation already prepared for the child care expenses? It would be helpful, in my experience, to gather receipts, provider tax ID information, and possibly statements showing how much you paid throughout 2022. Also, do you perhaps know approximately how much you spent on qualifying child care? The credit can be worth up to $1,050 for one child or $2,100 for two or more children for 2022, depending on your income level and expenses. This might help you determine if it's worth pursuing.

I went through EXACTLY this last year. Missed out on like $1,800 in child care credits from 2022 and no one would help me file the amendment during tax season. Every place was like "come back after April 15th" but I needed it fixed ASAP because I was on a payment plan with the IRS. I ended up calling the IRS directly to ask questions about my amendment, but spent THREE DAYS trying to get through their phone system. Finally used Claimyr.com to get connected to an actual agent in about 18 minutes. The agent confirmed I could amend even while on a payment plan and that it would adjust my balance once processed. Totally worth the Claimyr fee to avoid the endless redial nightmare.

Have you considered doing the amendment yourself? Form 1040-X isn't that complicated if you're just adding the child care credit. You'd need to complete Form 2441 for the child care expenses and attach it to the 1040-X. What tax software did you use for your original return? Most major ones like TurboTax and H&R Block allow you to prepare amendments for previous years, even if you didn't use them originally. They'll walk you through the process step by step. How much did you spend on childcare in 2022? And what was your adjusted gross income? These factors determine the actual credit amount you'd receive.

Is it really worth the hassle though? You're talking about filing an amended return, gathering all the documentation, potentially paying someone to prepare it, and then waiting months for processing. And for what? The Child and Dependent Care Credit phases out at higher income levels, so depending on your AGI, you might not even get the full benefit. Have you calculated the potential credit amount versus the cost of preparing the amendment? And what about audit risk? Doesn't amending a return increase your chances of getting flagged for review, especially when you're already owing the IRS?

I was in almost the exact same situation in 2021. I owed about $3,200 to the IRS and discovered I had missed claiming a significant child care credit. I was hesitant to rock the boat since I already had a payment plan set up. But I went ahead with the amendment and it reduced my liability by almost $1,900! The IRS automatically adjusted my payment plan amount after processing the amendment (took about 4 months). The peace of mind from knowing I wasn't overpaying was worth the effort. Don't let owing money stop you from claiming credits you're legally entitled to. The IRS actually handles this situation routinely.

Pro tip from someone who's been there: Wait until May to find a preparer for your amendment. 😂 Tax pros right now are drowning in current-year returns and extensions. For finding someone to do it: - Enrolled Agents (EAs) are usually more willing to take on amendments than CPAs - Local independent tax offices (not chains) are your best bet - Expect to pay $150-300 depending on complexity - Bring ALL your child care documentation (provider tax ID, annual receipts) Just remember the Child and Dependent Care Credit has specific income phaseouts and expense limitations. For 2022, the max expenses you can claim are $3,000 for one child or $6,000 for two or more. The actual credit percentage depends on your AGI.