Can the Child Care Credit be claimed without the caregivers' SSN or EIN?
Article ID: 33287
Answer You can only efile this credit if you have the required information. If the taxpayer is unable to obtain the required information from their childcare provider, you will be required to paperfile their return to take the credit.
If the childcare provider refuses to supply a social security or EIN number, the taxpayer can still claim the credit by demonstrating "due diligence" in attempting to secure the needed information, providing they meet other requirements. When the care provider refuses to give the identifying information, you can still claim the credit as long as you provide whatever information that has been obtained (such as name and address) on the form used to claim the credit (Form 2441/Child and Dependent Care Expenses for Form 1040 filers, or Schedule 2/Child and Dependent Care Expenses for Form 1040A filers). You should write "see page 2" in the columns calling for the missing information. Write at the bottom of page 2 that the provider refused to give the requested information. This statement will show that you used due diligence in trying to secure and furnish the necessary information.
However, please note that our program will not support this. You will need to paper file to include the necessary documentation. Please log in and print your completed return, make the above addition and then sign and mail in.