My older son attends a private school this year, and it has changed from a preschool to a pre-kindergarten. My husband and I both work and I am enrolled in a dependent-care spending account at work. Can I use the money for the cost of pre-kindergarten tuition?
You're in luck. Even though you generally can't use the dependent-care money for education, the IRS draws the line at kindergarten. That means anything below that -- whether it's called nursery school, preschool or pre-K -- can be paid for with dependent-care account money, says Mark Luscombe, principal analyst with CCH Tax and Accounting. For kindergarten and above, you can only include the cost of care before and after school.
You also can use the dependent-care money for summer camp for a child of any age, as long as it's a day camp and not an overnight camp. Summer school and tutoring are considered to be education expenses, however, and don't qualify.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Be a smarter, better informed investor.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
The rules about which expenses qualify for the dependent-care account are very similar to the expenses that count for the dependent-care tax credit. See IRS Publication 503 Child and Dependent Care Expenses for more information. Since you can't double-dip tax benefits, you can't use the same expenses for both the dependent-care tax credit and the dependent-care account.
-
Top Places to Park $10K (or More) as Rates Start to FallWith more rate cuts upcoming, here are some smart places to maximize your savings on $10,000.
-
What’s the New 2026 Estate Tax Exemption Amount?Estate Tax The IRS just increased the exemption as we enter into a promising tax year for estates and inheritances.
-
What’s the New 2026 Estate Tax Exemption Amount?
Estate Tax The IRS just increased the exemption as we enter into a promising tax year for estates and inheritances.
-
IRS Updates 2026 Tax Deduction for People Age 65 and OlderTax Changes Adjustments to the extra standard deduction can impact the tax bills of millions of older adults. Here are some new amounts to know for 2026.
-
Child Tax Credit, EITC, & More: Three IRS Tax Breaks Getting Bigger SoonTax Credits Key family tax breaks are higher for 2026, including the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Adoption Credit. Here's what they're worth.
-
Standard Deduction 2026 Amounts Are HereTax Breaks What is the standard deduction for your filing status in 2026?
-
Claiming the Standard Deduction? Here Are Five Tax Breaks for Retirement in 2025Tax Tips If you’re retired and filing taxes, these five tax credits and deductions could provide thousands in relief (if you qualify).
-
IRS Names Its First CEO: But He’s Also Still Running Social SecurityTax News Will this new role make it difficult to address emerging issues like budget and staffing cuts and customer service concerns?
-
New Tax Rules: Income the IRS Won’t Touch in 2025Income Taxes From financial gifts to Roth withdrawal rules, here’s what income stays tax-free under the new Trump 2025 tax bill, and some information on what’s changed.
-
Three Popular Tax Breaks Are Gone for Good in 2026Tax Breaks Here's a list of federal tax deductions and credits that you can't claim in the 2026 tax year. High-income earners could also get hit by a 'surprise' tax bill.
