Ok - my girlfriend and I have lived together for all of 2008. Her son was also with us all 365 days and I provided well over the 50% support. I will be claiming him as a non-child dependent this year.

Please correct me if I am wrong, but I cannot get the $1000 child credit for him correct?

Can I claim his daycare expenses, which I paid all of as my GF was on maternity for a large chunk of the year?

Also, if my girlfriend and I marry in 2009, do I get the child credit for the full year like I do with our shared child even though she was born mid year?

Ah, for the good ol days of just doing a 1040EZ...

Thanks in advance!
Steve

Steve:

That is correct: you CANNOT get the Child Tax Credit for your girl friend's son, even though you are claiming him as a dependent. This assumes that he is NOT your biological child.

However, you CAN claim his daycare expenses for the Child Care Credit, because you are claiming him as a dependent and, presumably, you are filing as Head of Household.

If you get married in 2009, you will file jointly with your new wife and then you CAN claim the $1,000 Child Tax Credit on your joint return for BOTH your shared child and her son.

You are the best. Just reading the things you respond to has netted me almost 2k in refunds this year. Of course the GF has already spent it... but its awesome all the same.

Quick follow-up - I plugged the information into Turbotax and went well over the 3000 cap on child care. When it computed it out, I got a 20% credit of 600 tacked onto my return. Is that 20% standard or are there factors that determine the percentage?

The 20% of $3,000 (for a $600 credit) is about right, as that is the predominant percentage claimed.

The Child Tax Credit depends on the amount spent for the child care and the income level of the tax payer.

Another question just for my personal edification...

Is that 20% based on the 3000 cap or the actual amount paid, compared to income level?

It's 20% of $3,000, or 20% of what you actually paid, whichever is LESS.