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Rhode Island Child and Dependent Care, Earned Income, and Property Tax Relief

Rhode Island tax relief pathways that may apply to caregiver households, including the Rhode Island percentage of allowable federal child and dependent care expenses credit, Rhode Island earned income credit, and Form RI-1040H property tax relief claim for older adults and people receiving Social Security disability benefits.

Rhode Island offers several tax relief paths relevant to caregiver households. The state allows a credit equal to 25% of the allowable federal child and dependent care expenses credit, limited by Rhode Island income tax, claimed through RI Schedule I and Form RI-1040 line 9a. Rhode Island also offers an earned income credit equal to 16% of the federal EITC for tax year 2025, claimed on RI Schedule EIC and Form RI-1040 line 14d. Form RI-1040H provides property tax relief for eligible residents who were domiciled in Rhode Island for all of 2025, are age 65 or older and/or disabled, have 2025 household income of $40,730 or less, and lived in an owned or rented homestead subject to property tax; the maximum 2025 credit is $700.

Questions to ask the program

These are questions to ask the program, not a verdict on your eligibility. Confirm the current rules directly with the program.

  • Does the person receiving care live in Rhode Island? — Residency is usually the first thing a program checks.
  • Which tax year does this apply to, and what form claims it?
  • Does your employer already offer this, and have they told staff? — Some credits are claimed by the employer, not by you — asking is the move.

Services

Rhode Island offers several tax relief paths relevant to caregiver households. The state allows a credit equal to 25% of the allowable federal child and dependent care expenses credit, limited by Rhode Island income tax, claimed through RI Schedule I and Form RI-1040 line 9a. Rhode Island also offers an earned income credit equal to 16% of the federal EITC for tax year 2025, claimed on RI Schedule EIC and Form RI-1040 line 14d. Form RI-1040H provides property tax relief for eligible residents who were domiciled in Rhode Island for all of 2025, are age 65 or older and/or disabled, have 2025 household income of $40,730 or less, and lived in an owned or rented homestead subject to property tax; the maximum 2025 credit is $700.

How to apply

Use the official program page for application details: official program page.

  • cdctc (companion): Rhode Island's child and dependent care credit is calculated from the allowable federal credit.
  • eitc (companion): Rhode Island earned income credit is calculated as a percentage of the federal earned income credit.