{"id":1166,"date":"2026-05-19T20:05:11","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T20:05:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/denvermovingchronicle.com\/?p=1166"},"modified":"2026-05-19T20:05:11","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T20:05:11","slug":"new-tax-credit-offers-1200-relief-to-colorado-childcare-teachers-and-staff","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/denvermovingchronicle.com\/?p=1166","title":{"rendered":"New tax credit offers $1,200 relief to Colorado childcare teachers and staff"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. <\/em><\/p>\n

DENVER<\/strong> | More than 19,000 Colorado childcare teachers and staff have taken advantage of a new $1,200 state tax credit for workers who support young children, older adults, or people with disabilities.<\/p>\n

The Care Worker Tax Credit was created by a 2024 state law and became available for the first time this spring when Coloradans filed returns for the 2025 tax year. It\u2019s available to single filers who earn an adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less and joint filers who earn $100,000 or less.<\/p>\n

The income tax credit represents an effort by Colorado lawmakers to help early childhood educators, whose average pay is lower than many fast food and retail workers. It also takes a more expansive view of the workforce than some other initiatives by including people who care for young children outside of state-licensed facilities, often called family, friend, and neighbor caregivers.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

About 17,500 childcare workers providing state-licensed care, and 1,800 providing family, friend, and neighbor care sought the new tax credit this year, according to preliminary state data. That\u2019s about $23 million worth of tax relief.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor too long, early childhood and direct care professionals have been undercompensated, despite the essential role they play in our communities and economy,\u201d Lisa Roy, executive director of the Colorado Department of Early Childhood, said in a press release.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Care Worker Tax Credit represents a meaningful step toward greater financial stability for these professionals who nurture Colorado\u2019s children, support families, and strengthen communities every day,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

State officials said they won\u2019t have numbers showing how many workers caring for older adults and people with disabilities took advantage of the tax credit until the fall.<\/p>\n

The care workers tax credit is a refundable tax credit, which means that eligible filers will get money back from the credit even if their tax bill is less than $1,200. For example, if their tax bill is $1,000, the tax credit will cover the bill, and the remaining $200 will be sent to the filer as a refund.<\/p>\n

Colorado has another tax credit available to some childcare workers, but it\u2019s expiring after the 2025 tax year. Created by a 2022 state law to encourage early childhood educators to increase their credentials, the Early Childhood Educator Tax Credit provides credits between $872 and $1,743 depending on credential level.<\/p>\n

Child care workers who already filed their taxes but did not seek the Care Worker Tax Credit can still do so by amending their tax returns and filing the appropriate paperwork by Oct. 15.<\/p>\n

Ann Schimke is a senior reporter at Chalkbeat. Contact Ann at aschimke@chalkbeat.org. Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news site covering educational change in public school<\/em>s.<\/p>\n

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