As tax season approaches each year, we often receive calls from
parents asking for Camp’s Federal Tax ID, likely so they can include the
camp on their tax returns. Many parents hope to write off their summer
camp expenses and potentially get a tax deduction for what they spent
sending their children to camp. While we aren’t tax experts at Camp, we can share what we know and point you to helpful resources. This issue tends to be a bit confusing because not all camp expenses qualify as “Child and Dependent Care Expenses.”
To clarify, the IRS document that explains this is Publication 503, "Child and Dependent Care Expenses." This document outlines who is eligible to claim the credit, how to calculate it, and, most importantly, which types of childcare providers qualify. So, does Camp qualify as a childcare provider? If it does, and you meet the other eligibility requirements (such as both parents working or the “qualified person test”), you might be able to claim between 20% and 35% of your eligible childcare costs, up to $3,000 per child or $6,000 per family.
So, are summer camp expenses tax-deductible? The answer is: it depends. It hinges on the type of camp—specifically, whether the camp is a “day camp” or an “overnight camp.” The IRS is clear about this distinction: while the cost of day camps may count as an expense for the child and dependent care credit, expenses for overnight camps do not. This means that overnight camps like Camp Ridgecrest and Camp Crestridge do not qualify as childcare providers. Therefore, we are unable to offer a daily rate or any modified invoice by day.
According to the IRS, the credit is intended to cover childcare costs that arise when both parents are working (or looking for work), and day camps provide care during working hours. While overnight camps do provide care as well, they also include care outside of working hours, such as at night. While it’s true that Ridgecrest Summer Camps takes care of your children while you're working during the summer, it appears that the current tax code does not consider this as work-related care.
Please remember that we are not tax professionals, so don’t take this as financial advice. Your tax advisor might have a different interpretation, and there could be other exceptions or restrictions that apply.
For more information, we recommend checking out this article from CBS News, which discusses the restrictions and explains why expenses for overnight camps don’t qualify for the credit. For your convenience, please see the IRS Publication 503 right here. Best wishes and we are excited to see you this coming summer!
To clarify, the IRS document that explains this is Publication 503, "Child and Dependent Care Expenses." This document outlines who is eligible to claim the credit, how to calculate it, and, most importantly, which types of childcare providers qualify. So, does Camp qualify as a childcare provider? If it does, and you meet the other eligibility requirements (such as both parents working or the “qualified person test”), you might be able to claim between 20% and 35% of your eligible childcare costs, up to $3,000 per child or $6,000 per family.
So, are summer camp expenses tax-deductible? The answer is: it depends. It hinges on the type of camp—specifically, whether the camp is a “day camp” or an “overnight camp.” The IRS is clear about this distinction: while the cost of day camps may count as an expense for the child and dependent care credit, expenses for overnight camps do not. This means that overnight camps like Camp Ridgecrest and Camp Crestridge do not qualify as childcare providers. Therefore, we are unable to offer a daily rate or any modified invoice by day.
According to the IRS, the credit is intended to cover childcare costs that arise when both parents are working (or looking for work), and day camps provide care during working hours. While overnight camps do provide care as well, they also include care outside of working hours, such as at night. While it’s true that Ridgecrest Summer Camps takes care of your children while you're working during the summer, it appears that the current tax code does not consider this as work-related care.
Please remember that we are not tax professionals, so don’t take this as financial advice. Your tax advisor might have a different interpretation, and there could be other exceptions or restrictions that apply.
For more information, we recommend checking out this article from CBS News, which discusses the restrictions and explains why expenses for overnight camps don’t qualify for the credit. For your convenience, please see the IRS Publication 503 right here. Best wishes and we are excited to see you this coming summer!
