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@AnmarieA wrote:

 

Can the mother claim the dependent care costs on her filing without claiming the children as dependents

If the father does not claim the children this year and allows the mother to do so, the ProConnect software is still calculating EIC

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No, if the mother is not claiming the children as dependents, she can not claim the Dependent Care Credit.  If she is not claiming the dependents, there is no reason for the dependents to be in the program.

No, if the father does not claim the children as dependents, he can not claim EIC based on the children.  The children don't even need to be in the program if he is not claiming them.  If he qualifies for EIC for a childless person, he can claim that.