Child care tax breaks can save families and businesses money — but few use them, congressional report finds

June 22, 2026 - 18:47

Child care is a major expense for working parents and a costly headache for employers trying to retain staff. Federal tax incentives were designed to ease that burden, but a new congressional report reveals that very few families or businesses are actually taking advantage of them.

The report, issued by the Joint Committee on Taxation, found that usage rates for key child care tax breaks remain surprisingly low. For example, the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, which helps families cover the cost of daycare or after-school programs, is claimed by only a fraction of eligible households. Many parents either do not know the credit exists or find the paperwork too complicated.

On the business side, the situation is similar. Employers can claim a tax credit for providing child care facilities to their workers, but the report shows that participation is minimal. The credit is meant to offset the cost of setting up on-site daycares or contracting with local providers, yet most companies simply do not apply.

The report suggests that the complexity of the tax code is a major barrier. Families often struggle to calculate the credit correctly, while businesses worry about the upfront costs of starting a program even with the tax break. Lawmakers are now considering whether to simplify the rules or increase the value of the credits to encourage wider use.

Without these changes, the report warns, the gap between the high cost of child care and the limited help available will only grow. For now, both parents and employers are leaving money on the table, often without even realizing it.