Definitions: Types of Child Care Providers

“Kith and Kin” (Care Provided by Relatives, Friends and Neighbors): These caregivers are generally the most informal type of child care providers. It is often called "Kith and Kin" care and can take place in the caregiver's home or in the child's home. In some instances, the provider will be a spouse caring for his/her own children and also taking care of one or two additional children for the extra income. Others can be grandparents or other relatives, friends, or neighbors who welcome the extra money or are not paid, but are willing to look after the children. This type of care is generally not under much regulatory control and in some states may be exempt from licensing requirements. These providers often believe that this income is not taxable and, therefore, need not be reported. However, this could result in both taxable income and self- employment tax. Child care provided in the child’s home by a household employee, which is discussed under In-Home Care, is also a concern.

In Illinois the criteria is as follows: 3 or less children including your own child under age 12, there are 2 exceptions which are: All children from one family plus your child or all nieces, nephews, etc. from same family plus your child.

Family Day Care: This type of child care is provided in the home of the provider, is nonmedical and is usually for less than 24 hours. Regulations differ from state to state; however, most states regulate facilities that care for more than four children. Most states require family care providers to have criminal background checks, preservice and/or ongoing training as well as state inspection on an annual or random basis. All states set minimum health, safety, and nutrition standards for providers. Where there are government regulatory requirements, the provider is required to be approved, certified, registered or licensed under the applicable state or local law. [Compliance with regulatory requirements may be important as it could affect the deduction for the business use of the home (discussed later) under Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) Section 280A(c)(4).] Contact the applicable state or local agency for their regulations, which can be found via the link cited below.

Child Care Centers: This type of child care is usually provided in separate facilities apart from the owner’s residence. Many child care centers are organized as corporations (Form 1120), S corporations (Form 1120S) or partnerships (Form 1065). There may be more than one facility operated by a corporation or partnership. There may be one or more shareholders or partners involved in several facilities, each of which may be organized as a separate corporation or partnership. All states require child care centers to be licensed, although the specifics of each will differ. Contact the applicable state or local agency for their regulations using the link below. These centers may be required to report attendance records or other similar information. They may have large commercial kitchens, playground equipment, swimming pools, and large quantities of toys

In-Home Care: Some children are cared for in their own homes by a paid housekeeper, maid, governess, au pair or nanny. The home caregiver is generally paid as a household employee. The parents show the wages on Schedule H attached to their Form 1040. This situation is not a child care provider business. The nanny, housekeeper, etc. receives wages but does not incur expenses as a child care provider. For more information see Topic 756 - Employment Taxes for Household Employees. Most states do not regulate in-home caregivers, but some states regulate nanny-placement agencies

Babysitters: Lastly, babysitters provide child care in the child’s home on an irregular basis, such as when the parents go out to an event leaving the children under the care of a college student. The income of a babysitter is taxable income.

Others: There may be other types of child care providers, such as after-school programs, church programs, or other tax- exempt entities. These are not specifically addressed in this document

The National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education provides links to individual state's child care regulations, as well as licensing and child care-related contacts.

Interview

The answers to the questions below will provide you with the information that is available to verify that income is correctly reported and what sources are available to do an indirect method if necessary:

Ask how the provider determined the income for the business.
Does the provider maintain any records of the income received? What kind of records?
Does the provider have a contract with the children’s parents? If yes, ask for the contract.
Does the provider have a rate schedule? Is the same schedule used for all children or do some have a special rate? Determine which children have a different rate and the amount. If the provider does not have the rate schedule for the year in question, ask for the current rate schedule and then ask how it differed in the tax year under exam.
What is the policy for payment when the child is absent due to illness, vacation, etc.?
Does the provider get paid vacation? (Are the fees due for the period the provider takes agreed upon vacation?)
Does the provider have a fee policy for when the parents drop their children off early or are late picking up the children?
Does the provider have a special charge when the child is left beyond the normal business hours on certain days or occasions in which the provider agrees to keep them longer?
Does the provider ever keep children overnight?
Does the provider furnish transportation to and from school, field trips, etc.? Is it part of the contract price or is there extra charge for either service?
For infants and toddlers who wear diapers, does the provider furnish diapers? Is there an extra charge? If the parents provide diapers, does the provider charge for diapers used above what was provided, if needed? How does the provider keep track of extra charges for diapers?
Does the provider charge holding fees? (fees to hold a position for a child prior to the child coming to the facility)
Does the provider charge a registration fee? A fee to cover the cost of the provider’s time to interview the parents, prepare contracts, collecting enrollment information, etc.? If yes, ask if the state ever paid the registration fee, which is done in some states.
Does the provider have a sign-in, sign-out sheet for the parents?
Does the provider have attendance sheets?
Does the provider have emergency contact information?
Does the provider have permission for medical treatment forms for the children in the program?
Does the provider have parent permission slips for field trips?
Does the provider receive payments from sources other than the parents, such as food program reimbursements (CACFP), payments from the parent’s employer, grant payments from a nonprofit organization, etc.? If yes, then inquire how the provider records the payments or keep track of what was received and if the provider needs to submit any records to get the payments, such as reports to get the CACFP payments. Do the payments include any amounts for the provider’s own children?
If there is a bad weather day and the child does not come, does the parent still have to pay?
Does the provider furnish year-end statements to the parents as to how much they paid in the tax year?
Does the provider furnish meals and snacks or do parents send food with the children? If meals and snacks are provided, ask for details of what kind of meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and how many snacks.
For providers who have facilities not in their home, ask if they rent out the facilities during nonbusiness hours. Some providers do this especially on weekends.
Ask if the provider was granted a loan to purchase business equipment whose principal was forgiven. If yes, then ask what the terms of the forgiveness were and if the loan was forgiven during the year under examination, then the amount forgiven is taxable income.

Note: For all yes answers, use follow-up questions to get details.

Income from Records

If the provider maintains records, tie the records to the return. Test the completeness of the records against other sources you discover in the interview, such as sign-in and sign-out sheets, contracts, attendance records, year-end receipts, emergency contact information, etc. Verify that all the children that are cared for are accounted for in the records. Check for the reporting of extra charges, such as late fees, trip fees, etc. Question any significant fluctuations in the weekly/monthly income.

Reconstruction Methods to Verify Income or Reconstruct Income

The method to be used will be determined on a case-by-case basis depending on the amount of records and source documents available. Some small providers, such as the “Kith and Kin” types, might have minimal records or documents. The bank deposit method is a good method since many parents pay by check to have proof of payment for the child care credit. However, for “Kith and Kin” type, it may not be the best method to test or reconstruct income since there might be a lot of cash transactions in this business. The Cash-T might not be helpful since the income from the provider business may not be the main source of support. Bank account deposit details can provide information, such as the parent’s name and payments amounts, and provide a source for making third- party contacts. Third-party contacts may or may not be effective in “Kith and Kin” type businesses because there might be a close personal relationship with the provider. Be sure to follow third-party contact procedures (IRM 4.10.1.6.12).

Various methods to reconstruct income can be created using the information from the rate schedules, contracts, attendance records, sign-in and sign-out sheets, year-end statements, food program statements, etc. (Note: Under IRC Section 7602(e), the Service may not use indirect methods to reconstruct income unless it “has a reasonable indication that there is a likelihood of…unreported income.” See IRM 4.10.4 for the techniques that should be employed to determine whether there is a likelihood of unreported income.)

Business Use of the Home:

Introduction

Child care providers are allowed a deduction for expenses associated with the business use of their homes. The requirements for the deduction are different than those for other businesses since qualifying usage does not require exclusive use for business. Regular usage is generally qualifying. A provider may have a combination of exclusively used rooms and regular used rooms, which is discussed in the instructions of Form 8829. See IRC Section 280A(c)(4).

If the child care provider meets the requirements to qualify to take the deduction (discussed below), it is computed on Form 8829, Expenses for Business Use of Your Home .

Requirements to Qualify for Business Use of Home Deduction for Day Care Facilities (Regulatory)

In order to claim the business-use-of-the-home deduction, the taxpayer must meet the following two requirements:

The provider must be in the trade or business of providing day care for children, persons age 65 or older, or persons who are physically or mentally unable to care for themselves. (IRC Section 280A(c)(4)(A)).
The provider must have applied for, been granted, or be exempt from having, a license, certification, registration, or approval as a day care center or as a family or group day care home under state law. The provider does not meet this requirement if their application was rejected or the license or other authorization was revoked. (IRC Section 280A (c)(4)(B)).

The examiner should check the requirements of the state in cases where the provider claims exemption from the state licensing requirements.

Note to Examiners: The licensing requirement applies only to the deduction for business use of the home. An unlicensed provider may still deduct other business expenses, such as food, toys, supplies, etc.