CO – Early Childhood Educator Tax Credit

Article: 50683

What is This Credit?

The Colorado Early Childhood Educator Tax Credit is available to professionals who held an early childhood credential and were employed by or licensed as an eligible childcare program during the tax year.

The credit amount is based on your credential level and can range from $852 to $1,705.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify, both of the following must apply:

• You held an early childhood professional credential issued by the Colorado Department of Early Childhood for part of the income tax year
• For at least six months of the tax year, you were employed by or were the licensee of an eligible early childhood education program

Information You’ll Need to Enter

You’ll be asked to provide:

• Your name and SSN/ITIN
• Whether the form is for the taxpayer, spouse, or joint
• Confirmation that you met both eligibility requirements
• The highest credential level you held during the tax year (I–VI)

How to Add the CO – Early Childhood Educator Tax Credit Screen

To claim this credit:

1. Go to the State Taxes section on the left-hand side.
2. Click I’d like to see the forms I’ve filled out or search for a form.
3. Select Colorado from the dropdown menu.
4. Click the Credits tab.
5. Select CO – Early Childhood Educator Tax Credit.
6. Complete the screen and click Save.

Further Information

For more details about credentialing and program eligibility, visit the Colorado Department of Early Childhood website or consult the CO Individual Income Tax Filing Guide.