Various Eligible Expenses

You can use your Dependent Care FSA (DCFSA) to pay for a wide variety of child and adult care services. The IRS determines which expenses can be reimbursed by an FSA. While this list shows the eligibility of some of the most common dependent care expenses, it's not meant to be comprehensive. Be sure to check with your tax advisor if you have questions about whether a certain expense is eligible for reimbursement under this program.

Keep Your Receipts

Please save your receipts and other supporting documentation related to your DCFSA expenses and claims. The IRS may request itemized receipts to verify the eligibility of your expenses.

When submitting a DCFSA claim, either have your dependent care provider certify the service by signing the claim form or provide an itemized statement from the dependent care provider that includes service dates, dependent's name, type of service, amount billed, and the provider's name and address along with a completed claim form. Credit card receipts, canceled checks, and balance forward statements do not meet the requirements for acceptable documentation.

Eligible expenses search and results

Displaying expenses 1–15 of 49
Eligible expenses. Each row shows whether the expense is eligible and any documentation needed.
Expense Eligible? Documentation Needed
Activity fees Not eligible
Adult day care center Eligible with detailed receipt
After school program Eligible with detailed receipt
Au pair Eligible with detailed receipt
Babysitting (not work-related, for other purpose) Not eligible
Babysitting (work-related, in your home or someone else's) Eligible with detailed receipt
Babysitting by your relative who is not a tax dependent (work-related) Eligible with detailed receipt
Babysitting by your tax dependent (work-related or for other purpose) Not eligible
Before or after school program Eligible with detailed receipt
Child care Eligible with detailed receipt
Custodial elder care (not work-related, for other purpose) Not eligible
Custodial elder care (work-related) Eligible with detailed receipt
Dance lessons Not eligible
Day Camp Eligible with detailed receipt
Day nursing care Not eligible
  • Eligible with detailed receipt
  • Not eligible
  • Requires prescription from your doctor, plus detailed receipt
  • Requires Letter of Medical Necessity signed by your doctor, plus detailed receipt