Can a married couple with two qualifying dependents claim a Child and Dependent Care Credit if they have childcare expenses?

A married couple with two qualifying dependents can indeed claim a Child and Dependent Care Credit if they have childcare expenses that enable them to work, making the first answer correct.

To elaborate, the Child and Dependent Care Credit is specifically designed to assist families with young children or dependents who require care so that the parents can work or look for work. The IRS stipulates that for expenses to qualify for the credit, they must be incurred for the care of a qualifying child or dependent and should be necessary for the parents to maintain their employment. This means that if the couple can demonstrate that their childcare expenses are directly linked to their ability to work, they will meet the requirements for claiming the credit.

The context surrounding the other options can clarify why they do not apply. While having a qualifying income is relevant for determining eligibility for certain credits, the Child and Dependent Care Credit specifically requires that expenses are incurred to allow parents to work. It's also not true that expenses do not matter; they are a central part of the eligibility criteria. Lastly, both parents being employed does not disqualify them from claiming the credit; in fact, having both parents working can further justify the need for childcare expenses. Therefore, the key factor remains that the expenses