Instructions for IRS Form 8839 Qualified Adoption Expenses

IRS Form 8839 Qualified Adoption Expenses

This document contains official instructions for IRS Form 8839 , Qualified Adoption Expenses - a tax form released and collected by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), a subdivision of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. An up-to-date fillable IRS Form 8839 is available for download through this link.

FAQ

Q: What is IRS Form 8839?
A: IRS Form 8839 is used to claim the adoption credit or exclusion for qualified adoption expenses.

Q: What are qualified adoption expenses?
A: Qualified adoption expenses are expenses that are directly related to the legal adoption of an eligible child.

Q: Who can claim the adoption credit or exclusion?
A: Taxpayers who have incurred qualified adoption expenses and have adopted an eligible child can claim the adoption credit or exclusion.

Q: What is the adoption credit?
A: The adoption credit is a non-refundable credit that reduces the taxpayer's overall tax liability.

Q: What is the adoption exclusion?
A: The adoption exclusion allows taxpayers to exclude certain expenses from their taxable income.

Q: What documentation is required to claim the adoption credit or exclusion?
A: Taxpayers must provide documentation that shows the legal adoption of an eligible child and the amount of qualified adoption expenses.

Q: Are there income limits for claiming the adoption credit?
A: Yes, there are income limits for claiming the adoption credit. The credit is gradually phased out for taxpayers with modified adjusted gross incomes above certain thresholds.

Q: When is the deadline to file IRS Form 8839?
A: The deadline to file IRS Form 8839 is typically April 15th, unless an extension has been granted.

Q: Can I claim the adoption credit in addition to the adoption exclusion?
A: No, taxpayers can only claim either the adoption credit or the adoption exclusion for the same adoption expenses.