This calculator helps families see exactly how much they can claim with the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit. It models the 2026 credit rate phase-down, expense limits, and compares the credit against DCFSA savings so you can make the best decision for your household.
It was built by Drew Chambers, Co-founder of SitterSync. Drew has a background in private equity and energy transactions, and holds an MBA from Darden.
When Drew moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, he had a list of local babysitters from a community organization but no way to manage bookings, payments, or track expenses. He also discovered that most families around him overlooked babysitting as a primary care option, and nearly all of them didn't realize they could use their Dependent Care FSA or the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit to make those sitters tax-free.
SitterSync was built to solve both problems: make it easy to manage and pay babysitters, and make those payments tax-advantaged through DCFSA and the care credit.
This calculator exists because the care credit is one of the most underused tax benefits for families. Many parents don't know they qualify, don't know what expenses count, or assume they need to use daycare to claim it. Babysitters, summer camps, and after-school programs all qualify too.