Child Care for American Families Act
S. 5254118th Congress

Child Care for American Families Act

Introduced in the SenateSen. Michael Bennet (D-CO)27 sections · 2 min read
Version: is · Apr 20, 2026

Section 1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Child Care for American Families Act.

(a) In general

Section 45F(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking 25 percent and inserting the applicable percentage.

(b) Applicable percentage

Section 45F(a) of such Code, as amended by subsection (a), is amended—

(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and by moving the margins of such subparagraphs 2 ems to the right,

(2) by striking For purposes and inserting the following:

(1) Credit allowed

For purposes

(2) , and

(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(A) In general

For purposes of paragraph (1)(A), the applicable percentage is—

(i) except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, 40 percent,

(ii) in the case of any qualified child care expenditures of an eligible small business, 50 percent, and

(iii) in the case of any qualified child care expenditures paid or incurred in connection with a qualified child care facility located in a eligible census tract, 60 percent.

(B) Eligible small business

For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term eligible small business means, with respect to any taxable year, any taxpayer if the annual average number of employees employed by such person during either of the 2 preceding taxable years was 500 or fewer. For purposes of the preceding sentence, a preceding taxable year may be taken into account only if the taxpayer was in existence throughout the year.

(i) In general

For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term eligible census tract means any population census tract which—

(I) is described in section 45D(e), or

(II) is not an urban area.

(ii) Urban area

For purposes of this subparagraph, the term urban area means a census tract (as defined by the Bureau of the Census) which, according to the most recent decennial census, has been designated as an urban area by the Secretary of Commerce.

(c) Dollar limitation

Section 45F(b) of such Code is amended to read as follows:

(1) Aggregate limitation

The credit allowable under subsection (a) for any taxable year shall not exceed $1,200,000.

(2) Limitation with respect to qualified child care expenditures

The aggregate amount of qualified child care expenditures which may be taken into account under this section for any taxable year shall not exceed $2,000,000.

(d) Effective date

The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Section 3. Guidance regarding multi-employer facilities

Section 45F of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(g) Guidance

The Secretary shall issue such guidance as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this section, including guidance on the application of this section to multi-employer facilities.

(a) In general

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury (or the Secretary's delegate) shall establish a public awareness program to inform taxpayers about—

(1) the availability of the credit for employer-provided child care under section 45F of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and

(2) filing procedures for such credit.

(b) Method

In carrying out this section, the Secretary of the Treasury (or the Secretary's delegate) shall use appropriate means of communication to ensure awareness by all taxpayers who are eligible for the credit allowed under section 45F of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

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