Taking Advantage of Tax Credits
Some of the most valuable tax credits are for parents. The following seven credits and deductions may add up to significant tax savings if you qualify.
- Dependents.
In most cases, you can claim your child as a dependent. This applies even if your child was born anytime in 2013.
- Child Tax Credit.
You may be able to claim the Child Tax Credit for each of your qualifying children under the age of 17 at the end of 2013. The maximum credit is $1,000 per child. If you get less than the full amount of the credit, you may be eligible for the Additional Child Tax Credit.
- Child and Dependent Care Credit.
You may be able to claim this credit if you paid someone to care for one or more qualifying persons. Your dependent child or children under age 13 are among those who are qualified. You must have paid for care so you could work or look for work.
- Adoption Credit.
You may be able to claim a tax credit for certain expenses you paid to adopt a child.
- Higher education credits.
If you paid for higher education for yourself or an immediate family member, you may qualify for either of two education tax credits. Both the American Opportunity Credit and the Lifetime Learning Credit may reduce the amount of tax you owe. If the American Opportunity Credit is more than the tax you owe, you could be eligible for a refund of up to $1,000.
- Student loan interest.
You may be able to deduct interest you paid on a qualified student loan, even if you don’t itemize deductions on your tax return.
- Self-employed health insurance deduction.
If you were self-employed and paid for health insurance, you may be able to deduct premiums you paid to cover your child under the Affordable Care Act. It applies to children under age 27 at the end of the year, even if not your dependent.
For more information, please contact the professionals in our office.