A prior section 21 was renumbered section 15 of this title.

2021—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 117–2, § 9631(a), added subsec. (g).

Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 117–2, § 9631(b), added subsec. (h).

2007—Subsec. (e)(5). Pub. L. 110–172 substituted “section 152(e)(4)(A)” for “section 152(e)(3)(A)” in concluding provisions.

2005—Subsec. (b)(1)(B). Pub. L. 109–135 inserted “(as defined in section 152, determined without regard to subsections (b)(1), (b)(2), and (d)(1)(B))” after “dependent of the taxpayer”.

2004—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 108–311, § 203(a), substituted “In the case of an individual for which there are 1 or more qualifying individuals (as defined in subsection (b)(1)) with respect to such individual” for “In the case of an individual who maintains a household which includes as a member one or more qualifying individuals (as defined in subsection (b)(1))”.

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 108–311, § 203(b), reenacted heading without change and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The term ‘qualifying individual’ means—

“(A) a dependent of the taxpayer who is under the age of 13 and with respect to whom the taxpayer is entitled to a deduction under section 151(c),

“(B) a dependent of the taxpayer who is physically or mentally incapable of caring for himself, or

“(C) the spouse of the taxpayer, if he is physically or mentally incapable of caring for himself.”

Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 108–311, § 203(c), amended heading and text of par. (1) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “An individual shall be treated as maintaining a household for any period only if over half the cost of maintaining the household for such period is furnished by such individual (or, if such individual is married during such period, is furnished by such individual and his spouse).”

Subsec. (e)(5). Pub. L. 108–311, § 207(2), struck out “paragraph (2) or (4) of” before “section 152(e)” in subpar. (A) and substituted “as defined in section 152(e)(3)(A)” for “within the meaning of section 152(e)(1)” in concluding provisions.

Subsec. (e)(6)(B). Pub. L. 108–311, § 207(3), substituted “section 152(f)(1)” for “section 151(c)(3)”.

2002—Subsec. (d)(2)(A). Pub. L. 107–147, § 418(b)(1), substituted “$250” for “$200”.

Subsec. (d)(2)(B). Pub. L. 107–147, § 418(b)(2), substituted “$500” for “$400”.

2001—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 107–16, § 204(b), substituted “35 percent” for “30 percent” and “$15,000” for “$10,000”.

Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 107–16, § 204(a)(1), substituted “$3,000” for “$2,400”.

Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 107–16, § 204(a)(2), substituted “$6,000” for “$4,800”.

1996—Subsec. (e)(10). Pub. L. 104–188 added par. (10).

1988—Subsec. (b)(1)(A). Pub. L. 100–485, § 703(a), substituted “age of 13” for “age of 15”.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 100–485, § 703(b), inserted at end: “The amount determined under paragraph (1) or (2) (whichever is applicable) shall be reduced by the aggregate amount excludable from gross income under section 129 for the taxable year.”

Subsec. (e)(5)(B). Pub. L. 100–485, § 703(a), substituted “age of 13” for “age of 15”.

Subsec. (e)(9). Pub. L. 100–485, § 703(c)(1), added par. (9).

1987—Subsec. (b)(2)(A). Pub. L. 100–203 inserted at end “Such term shall not include any amount paid for services outside the taxpayer’s household at a camp where the qualifying individual stays overnight.”

1986—Subsecs. (b)(1)(A), (e)(6)(A). Pub. L. 99–514, § 104(b)(1)(A), substituted “section 151(c)” for “section 151(e)”.

Subsec. (e)(6)(B). Pub. L. 99–514, § 104(b)(1)(B), substituted “section 151(c)(3)” for “section 151(e)(3)”.

1984—Pub. L. 98–369, § 471(c), renumbered section 44A of this title as this section.

Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 98–369, § 474(c)(2), (3), substituted “subsection (b)(1)” for “subsection (c)(1)” and “subsection (b)(2)” for “subsection (c)(2)”.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 98–369, § 474(c)(1), redesignated subsec. (c) as (b). Former subsec. (b), which provided that the credit allowed by subsec. (a) could not exceed the amount of the tax imposed by this chapter for the taxable year reduced by the sum of the credits allowable under sections 33, 37, 38, 40, 41, 42, and 44, was struck out.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 98–369, § 474(c)(1), redesignated subsec. (d) as (c). Former subsec. (c) redesignated (b).

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 98–369, § 474(c)(1), redesignated subsec. (e) as (d). Former subsec. (d) redesignated (c).

Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 98–369, § 474(c)(4), substituted “subsection (b)(1)(C)” for “subsection (c)(1)(C)” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (d)(2)(A). Pub. L. 98–369, § 474(c)(5), substituted “subsection (c)(1)” for “subsection (d)(1)”.

Subsec. (d)(2)(B). Pub. L. 98–369, § 474(c)(6), substituted “subsection (c)(2)” for “subsection (d)(2).

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 98–369, § 474(c)(1), redesignated subsec. (f) as (e). Former subsec. (e) redesignated (d).

Subsec. (e)(5). Pub. L. 98–369, § 474(c)(7), substituted “subsection (b)(1)” for “subsection (c)(1)” in provisions following subpar. (B).

Pub. L. 98–369, § 423(c)(4), amended par. (5) generally, substituting subpars. (A) and (B) reading:

“(A) paragraph (2) or (4) of section 152(e) applies to any child with respect to any calendar year, and

“(B) such child is under the age of 15 or is physically or mentally incapable of caring for himself,”

for former provisions:

“(A) a child (as defined in section 151(e)(3)) who is under the age of 15 or who is physically or mentally incapable of caring for himself receives over half of his support during the calendar year from his parents who are divorced or legally separated under a decree of divorce or separate maintenance or who are separated under a written separation agreement, and

“(B) such child is in the custody of one or both of his parents for more than one-half of the calendar year.”

and substituted in concluding text “(whichever is appropriate) with respect to the custodial parent (within the meaning of section 152(e)(1)), and shall not be treated as a qualifying individual with respect to the noncustodial parent” for “, as the case may be, with respect to that parent who has custody for a longer period during such calendar year than the other parent, and shall not be treated as being a qualifying individual with respect to such other parent.”

Subsecs. (f), (g). Pub. L. 98–369, § 474(c)(1), redesignated subsecs. (f) and (g) as (e) and (f), respectively.

1983—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 98–21 substituted “relating to credit for the elderly and the permanently and totally disabled” for “relating to credit for the elderly”.

1981—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 97–34, § 124(a), designated existing provisions as par. (1), substituted “the applicable percentage” for “20 percent” in par. (1) as so designated, and added par. (2).

Subsec. (c)(2)(B). Pub. L. 97–34, § 124(c), designated existing provisions as cl. (i) and added cl. (ii).

Subsec. (c)(2)(C), (D). Pub. L. 97–34, § 124(d), added subpars. (C) and (D).

Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 97–34, § 124(b)(1)(A), substituted “$2,400” for “$2,000”.

Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 97–34, § 124(b)(1)(B), substituted “$4,800” for “$4,000”.

Subsec. (e)(2)(A). Pub. L. 97–34, § 124(b)(2)(A), substituted “$200” for “$166”.

Subsec. (e)(2)(B). Pub. L. 97–34, § 124(b)(2)(B), substituted “$400” for “$333”.

1978—Subsec. (f)(6). Pub. L. 95–600 substituted provision disallowing a credit for any amount paid by a taxpayer to an individual with respect to whom, for the taxable year, a deduction under section 151(e) is allowable either to the taxpayer or his spouse or who is a child of the taxpayer who has not attained the age of 19 at the close of the taxpayer year and defining “taxpayer year” for provision disallowing a credit for any amount paid by the taxpayer to an individual bearing a relationship described in section 152(a)(1) through (8), or a dependent described in section 152(a)(9), except that a credit was allowed for an amount paid by a taxpayer to an individual with respect to whom, for the taxable year of the taxpayer in which the service was performed, neither the taxpayer nor his spouse was entitled to a deduction under section 151(e), provided the service constituted employment within the meaning of section 3121(b).

Pub. L. 117–2, title IX, § 9631(d), Mar. 11, 2021, 135 Stat. 160, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [amending this section, section 6211 of this title and section 1324 of Title 31, Money and Finance] shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2020.”

Pub. L. 109–135, title IV, § 404(d), Dec. 21, 2005, 119 Stat. 2634, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [amending this section and sections 152 and 223 of this title] shall take effect as if included in the provisions of the Working Families Tax Relief Act of 2004 [Pub. L. 108–311] to which they relate.”

Amendment by Pub. L. 108–311 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 2004, see section 208 of Pub. L. 108–311, set out as a note under section 2 of this title.

Pub. L. 107–147, title IV, § 418(c), Mar. 9, 2002, 116 Stat. 58, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [amending this section and sections 23 and 137 of this title] shall take effect as if included in the provisions of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 [Pub. L. 107–16] to which they relate.”

Pub. L. 107–16, title II, § 204(c), June 7, 2001, 115 Stat. 50, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2002.”

Pub. L. 104–188, title I, § 1615(d), Aug. 20, 1996, 110 Stat. 1853, provided that:

Pub. L. 100–485, title VII, § 703(d), Oct. 13, 1988, 102 Stat. 2427, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [amending this section and sections 129 and 6109 of this title] shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1988.”

Pub. L. 100–203, title X, § 10101(b), Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1330–384, as amended by Pub. L. 100–647, title II, § 2004(a), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3598, provided that:

Amendment by Pub. L. 99–514 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1986, see section 151(a) of Pub. L. 99–514, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.

Amendment by section 423(c)(4) of Pub. L. 98–369 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1984, see section 423(d) of Pub. L. 98–369, set out as a note under section 2 of this title.

Pub. L. 98–369, title IV, § 475(a), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 847, provided that: “The amendments made by this title [probably means subtitle F (§§ 471–475) of title IV of Pub. L. 98–369, which enacted sections 25, 38, and 39 of this title, amended this section and sections 12, 15, 22 to 24, 27 to 35, 37, 39 to 41, 44A, 44C to 44H, 45 to 48, 51, 52, 55, 56, 86, 87, 103, 108, 129, 168, 196, 213, 280C, 381, 383, 401, 404, 409, 441, 527, 642, 691, 874, 882, 901, 904, 936, 1016, 1033, 1351, 1366, 1374, 1375, 1441, 1442, 1451, 3507, 6013, 6096, 6201, 6211, 6213, 6362, 6401, 6411, 6420, 6421, 6427, 6501, 6511, 7701, 7871, 9502, and 9503 of this title, repealed sections 38, 40, 44, 44B, 50A, 50B, and 53 of this title, and enacted provisions set out as notes under sections 30, 33, 46, and 48 of this title] shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1983, and to carrybacks from such years.”

Amendment by Pub. L. 98–21 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1983, except that if an individual’s annuity starting date was deferred under section 105(d)(6) of this title as in effect on the day before Apr. 20, 1983, such deferral shall end on the first day of such individual’s first taxable year beginning after Dec. 31, 1983, see section 122(d) of Pub. L. 98–21, set out as a note under section 22 of this title.

Pub. L. 97–34, title I, § 124(f), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 201, provided that:

Pub. L. 95–600, title I, § 121(b), Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2779, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1978.”

Section applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1975, see section 508 of Pub. L. 94–455, set out as an Effective Date of 1976 Amendment note under section 3 of this title.

Pub. L. 101–508, title XI, § 11114, Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–414, provided that: “Not later than the first calendar year following the date of the enactment of this subtitle [Nov. 5, 1990], the Secretary of the Treasury, or the Secretary’s delegate, shall establish a taxpayer awareness program to inform the taxpaying public of the availability of the credit for dependent care allowed under section 21 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the earned income credit and child health insurance under section 32 of such Code. Such public awareness program shall be designed to assure that individuals who may be eligible are informed of the availability of such credit and filing procedures. The Secretary shall use appropriate means of communication to carry out the provisions of this section.”