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 31–45 of 49
Eligible expenses. Each row shows whether the expense is eligible and any documentation needed.
Expense Eligible? Documentation Needed
Nursing home care Not eligible
Overnight Care (with documentation that the care is employment related) Eligible with detailed receipt
Overnight Care (without documentation that the care is employment related) Not eligible
Payment Processing Fees Eligible with detailed receipt
Payroll taxes related to eligible care Eligible with detailed receipt
Piano lessons Not eligible
Preschool Eligible with detailed receipt
Private school tuition (for kindergarten and up) Not eligible
Provider discount/coupon Not eligible
Registration fees (required for eligible care, after actual services are received) Eligible with detailed receipt
Registration fees (required for eligible care, prior to actual services being received) Not eligible
Respite Care Not eligible
School tuition Not eligible
Senior day care Eligible with detailed receipt
Sick child care Eligible with detailed receipt
  • 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