Fill out Form 8839 (Qualified Adoption Expenses) online
Form 8839 is used to claim the adoption tax credit for qualified adoption expenses paid to adopt an eligible child. The credit covers expenses such as adoption fees, court costs, attorney fees, and travel expenses directly related to the adoption.
How to fill out Form 8839 (Qualified Adoption Expenses)
Identify the adopted child
Enter the child's name, year of birth, and indicate whether the adoption is domestic, foreign, or special needs. Provide the child's taxpayer identification number if available.
Enter qualified adoption expenses
List all qualified expenses paid during the tax year, including adoption fees, court costs, attorney fees, travel expenses, and other costs directly related to the legal adoption of the child.
Account for employer-provided benefits
If your employer provided adoption assistance benefits (reported on your W-2, box 12, code T), enter the amount received. Subtract employer benefits from your qualified expenses to avoid double-counting.
Apply income phase-out limits
Calculate the income phase-out based on your modified adjusted gross income. The credit begins to phase out at specified income thresholds and is fully eliminated at a higher threshold. Check the form instructions for current limits.
Transfer the credit to your return
Enter the total adoption credit on Schedule 3 and the excludable employer benefits on Form 1040. The credit is nonrefundable but can be carried forward for up to five years.
About Form 8839 (Qualified Adoption Expenses)
Who needs this form
Taxpayers who paid qualified adoption expenses to adopt a child under age 18 or a person physically or mentally incapable of self-care. The credit is available for domestic, international, and special needs adoptions.
Where to submit
Attach Form 8839 to your Form 1040 or 1040-SR when filing your annual federal income tax return. The credit flows to Schedule 3 (Additional Credits and Payments).
Source and content freshness
- Reviewed: 2026-02-24
- Filing deadlines may shift for weekends and holidays. Verify due dates with official instructions.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Claiming expenses before the adoption is finalized for a domestic adoption (expenses for a U.S. child are generally claimed in the year after they are paid, unless the adoption is finalized that year)
- Not reducing qualified expenses by amounts reimbursed by an employer adoption assistance program
- Exceeding the income phase-out thresholds without adjusting the credit amount
- Forgetting that a special needs adoption qualifies for the full credit amount regardless of actual expenses paid
Frequently asked questions
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When can I claim the adoption credit for a domestic adoption?
For a domestic adoption, expenses paid before the year the adoption is finalized are claimed in the year after they are paid. Expenses paid in the year the adoption is finalized (or later) are claimed in the year they are paid. For a foreign adoption, all expenses are claimed in the year the adoption becomes final, regardless of when they were paid.
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