Effective for tax years beginning on or after January 1,
2014, an adoption tax credit is available for individual income tax equal to
the amount of qualified adoption expenses paid or incurred by a taxpayer
related to the adoption of a child. For an adoption finalized on or after
January 1, 2014, but before January 1, 2017, the total adoption tax credit
claimed for the adoption may not exceed $2,500. For an adoption finalized on or
after January 1, 2017, the total adoption tax credit claimed for the adoption
may not exceed $5,000.
(1)
Adoption. For purposes of the credit, an adoption occurs when
a child is permanently placed in Iowa by any of the following:
a. The department of human
services;
b. An adoption service
provider as defined in Iowa Code section
600A.2; or
c. An agency that meets the provisions of the
interstate compact in Iowa Code section
232.158.
(2)
Child. A "child" is an
individual who is under the age of 18 years. "Child" does not include any
individual who is 18 years of age or older.
(3)
Qualified adoption
expenses.
a.
Generally. "Qualified adoption expenses" means unreimbursed
expenses paid or incurred in connection with the adoption of a child. Qualified
adoption expenses include all fees and costs related to the adoption of a
child, such as:
(1) Medical and hospital
expenses of the biological mother that are incident to the child's
birth;
(2) Welfare agency fees and
other reasonable and necessary adoption fees;
(3) Court costs, attorney fees, and other
legal fees;
(4) Travel expenses,
including amounts spent for meals and lodging while away from home;
and
(5) All other fees and costs
related to the adoption of a child.
b.
Limitations. Expenses
that are eligible for the federal adoption credit as provided in Section
23(d)(1) of the Internal
Revenue Code will be considered qualified adoption expenses. Expenses paid or
incurred in violation of state or federal law are not qualified adoption
expenses. Expenses that have been reimbursed are not qualified adoption
expenses.
(4)
Claiming the credit.
a.
Amount eligible for credit. For tax years beginning on or
after January 1, 2014, but beginning before January 1, 2017, the first $2,500
of qualified adoption expenses is eligible for the credit. For tax years
beginning on or after January 1, 2017, the first $5,000 of qualified adoption
expenses is eligible for the credit. The maximum credit amount is determined at
the time the adoption becomes final. If the qualified adoption expenses are
less than the maximum credit amount, then the total amount of qualified
expenses can be claimed as a credit. The amount of tax credit claimed cannot be
used as an itemized deduction for adoption expenses provided in 701-subrule
303.5(3).
b.
Claiming the
credit in tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2014, but before January
1, 2019.
(1) Claiming the credit in
the year the adoption becomes final. For tax years beginning on or after
January 1, 2014, but before January 1, 2019, to claim an adoption tax credit, a
taxpayer must claim the credit for all qualified adoption expenses paid or
incurred in the tax year the adoption becomes final, up to the maximum credit
amount provided in paragraph 304.52(4)
"a."
EXAMPLE: Michael and Lori are married. Michael and Lori adopt
a child who is permanently placed in Iowa. The adoption process begins and
becomes final in 2015. Because the adoption becomes final on or after January
1, 2014, but prior to January 1, 2017, Michael and Lori qualify for a maximum
credit amount of $2,500. Michael and Lori incur and pay unreimbursed qualified
adoption expenses of $20,000 in 2015. Michael and Lori jointly file their Iowa
individual income tax return in 2015. Michael and Lori may claim an Iowa
adoption tax credit of $2,500 in 2015.
(2) Claiming the credit in years other than
the year the adoption becomes final. For tax years beginning on or after
January 1, 2014, but before January 1, 2019, if a taxpayer cannot claim the
maximum credit amount provided in paragraph 304.52(4)
"a" for
the year the adoption becomes final, the taxpayer may amend a prior year's
return to claim any remaining credit for expenses paid in that prior year, or
the taxpayer may claim any remaining credit on a subsequent year's return for
expenses paid in that subsequent year. If a qualified adoption expense was
incurred in one tax year and paid in another tax year, the taxpayer may only
claim a credit for that expense in one year. The total adoption tax credit
claimed for all years combined may not exceed the maximum credit amount per
adoption provided in paragraph 304.52(4)
"a." An adjustment to
a prior's year return is subject to the limitations in rule
701-302.20 (422).
EXAMPLE: Erin adopts a child as a single parent. The child is
permanently placed in Iowa. The adoption process begins in 2016 and becomes
final in 2017. Because the adoption becomes final on or after January 1, 2017,
Erin qualifies for a maximum credit amount of $5,000. Erin pays and incurs
unreimbursed qualified adoption expenses of $20,000 in 2016 and $1,000 in 2017.
In tax year 2017, Erin may claim an Iowa adoption tax credit equal to the
$1,000 in unreimbursed qualified adoption expenses paid and incurred in 2017.
After claiming the credit for tax year 2017, Erin may amend the 2016 return to
claim the remaining $4,000 credit for unreimbursed qualified adoption expenses
paid and incurred in 2016.
c.
Claiming the credit in tax years
beginning on or after January 1, 2019.
(1) Claiming the credit in the year the
adoption becomes final. For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2019, to
claim an adoption tax credit, a taxpayer must claim the credit in the tax year
the adoption is finalized for all qualified adoption expenses paid or incurred
prior to or in the tax year the adoption becomes final, up to the maximum
credit amount of $5,000. A taxpayer shall not amend a prior year return in an
attempt to claim the credit for unreimbursed qualified adoption expenses paid
or incurred prior to the tax year in which the adoption becomes final.
EXAMPLE: Y and Z are married. Y and Z adopt a child who is
permanently placed in Iowa. The adoption process begins in 2016 and becomes
final in 2019. Because the adoption becomes final on or after January 1, 2017,
Y and Z qualify for a maximum credit amount of $5,000. Additionally, because
the adoption becomes final on or after January 1, 2019, Y and Z may claim an
Iowa adoption tax credit for unreimbursed qualified adoption expenses paid or
incurred prior to or in the year the adoption becomes final. Y and Z incur and
pay unreimbursed qualified adoption expenses of $5,000 in 2016, $10,000 in
2017, $2,000 in 2018, and $2,000 in 2019. Y and Z jointly file their Iowa
individual income tax return in 2019. Y and Z may claim an Iowa adoption tax
credit of $5,000 on their 2019 Iowa income tax return. Y and Z are not allowed
to amend a prior year return in an attempt to claim the credit for unreimbursed
qualified adoption expenses paid or incurred prior to the tax year in which the
adoption became final.
(2)
Claiming the credit in years after the adoption becomes final. For tax years
beginning on or after January 1, 2019, if a taxpayer cannot claim the maximum
credit amount of $5,000 for the year the adoption becomes final, the taxpayer
may claim an adoption tax credit for any unreimbursed qualified adoption
expenses paid or incurred after the tax year in which the adoption becomes
final in the tax year in which unreimbursed qualified adoption expenses are
paid or incurred.
EXAMPLE: W and X are married. W and X adopt a child who is
permanently placed in Iowa. The adoption process begins in 2018 and becomes
final in 2019. Because the adoption becomes final on or after January 1, 2017,
W and X qualify for a maximum credit amount of $5,000. W and X incur and pay
unreimbursed qualified adoption expenses of $1,000 in 2018, and $1,000 in 2019.
W and X jointly file their Iowa individual income tax return in 2019. W and X
may claim the Iowa adoption tax credit in 2019 in the amount of $2,000. In
2020, W and X incur and pay $5,000 in unreimbursed qualified adoption expenses
in connection to the adoption finalized in 2019. W and X may claim the
remaining $3,000 credit on their jointly filed Iowa individual income tax
return for 2020 for unreimbursed qualified adoption expenses incurred and paid
in 2020. W and X shall not amend their 2019 return to reflect the additional
unreimbursed qualified adoption expenses from 2020.
d.
Claiming the credit by two
adoptive parents. The adoption tax credit may only be claimed by a
person who adopted the child. When a married couple adopts a child together and
the couple files jointly on the same return, the credit may only be claimed
once between the couple. When any other two persons adopt a child together,
including married persons filing separately on the same or different returns or
any unmarried persons filing on separate returns, the credit must be divided
between the adoptive parents. Two adoptive parents, other than persons who are
married filing jointly, may agree to divide the credit in any way. The total
adoption tax credit claimed for all years by both parents combined may not
exceed the maximum credit amount per adoption provided in paragraph
304.52(4)
"a."
EXAMPLE: Peyton and Kerry are unmarried individuals. Peyton
and Kerry adopt a child together. The child is permanently placed in Iowa. The
adoption process begins and ends in 2018. Because the adoption becomes final on
or after January 1, 2017, Peyton and Kerry qualify for a maximum credit amount
of $5,000. However, Peyton and Kerry pay and incur unreimbursed qualified
adoption expenses of only $3,000 in 2018. Accordingly, Peyton and Kerry may
claim an Iowa adoption tax credit of $3,000 in 2018, which must be divided
between them. Peyton and Kerry agree that Peyton will claim $2,000 of the
credit, and Kerry will claim $1,000 of the credit.
e.
Adoption of a special needs
child. If a taxpayer adopts a special needs child, the credit under
this rule cannot exceed the amount of qualified adoption expenses paid or
incurred by the taxpayer during the tax year. The amount of the federal
adoption tax credit claimed for the adoption of a special needs child does not
affect the amount of the credit under this rule.
EXAMPLE: Francis and Mandy are married. Francis and Mandy
adopt a special needs child who is permanently placed in Iowa. The adoption
process begins and ends in 2017. Francis and Mandy paid and incurred $2,000 in
unreimbursed qualified adoption expenses related to the adoption during 2017.
For federal purposes, Francis and Mandy qualify for a maximum adoption tax
credit of $13,570 for the adoption of a special needs child. For Iowa purposes,
Francis and Mandy qualify for a maximum adoption tax credit of $2,000, which is
equal to the amount of unreimbursed qualified adoption expenses they paid or
incurred related to the adoption during the tax year.
f.
Adoption tax credit in excess of
tax liability. Any credit in excess of the taxpayer's tax liability is
refundable. In lieu of claiming the refund, the taxpayer may elect to have the
overpayment credited to the tax liability for the following tax year.
This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section
422.12A as amended by 2016 Iowa
Acts, House File 2468; 2017 Iowa Acts, Senate File 433; and 2019 Iowa Acts,
House File 779.
Notes
Iowa Code r.
701-304.52
ARC 1665C, IAB
10/15/14, effective 11/19/14;
ARC 3749C, IAB 4/11/18, effective 5/16/18; ARC 5308C, IAB 12/2/20, effective
1/6/21; Editorial change: IAC
Supplement 11/2/22; Editorial change: IAC Supplement
10/18/23
