Tuition and benefits
Paying for preschool with a Dependent Care FSA.
If your employer offers one, a Dependent Care FSA lets you set aside up to $7,500 a year before taxes for child care while you work. Preschool tuition at Shining Light counts. Here’s how it works, who can use it, what counts, and when to sign up.
How much
Up to $7,500 a year per household.
- $7,500 a year per household,
- up from $5,000 before 2026. $3,750 if you’re married and file separately.
- The same limit for 2027,
- the year most families are choosing now.
- For children under 13,
- while you (and your spouse) work or look for work.
- No more than the lower-earning spouse’s pay
- for the year.
- Choose it again every year.
- Elections don’t roll over.
What counts
What counts at Shining Light.
- K2, K3 and K4 (ages 2 to 4)
- Tuition for every day plan, from Half Day to Everlasting Light Extended Day. The IRS treats preschool as care.
- Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade
- Early care and after care. The school day itself is education, so it doesn’t count.
- Summer Day Camp and drop-in care
- Day camp and drop-in care can count for children of any age we serve.
- Fees
- Some plans accept the application fee once care has started. A forfeited deposit never counts.
| Program | What counts |
|---|---|
| K2, K3 and K4 (ages 2 to 4) | Tuition for every day plan, from Half Day to Everlasting Light Extended Day. The IRS treats preschool as care. |
| Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade | Early care and after care. The school day itself is education, so it doesn’t count. |
| Summer Day Camp and drop-in care | Day camp and drop-in care can count for children of any age we serve. |
| Fees | Some plans accept the application fee once care has started. A forfeited deposit never counts. |
Your plan decides what it reimburses. When in doubt, ask your benefits administrator.
When
Sign up during open enrollment.
Most employers let you choose a Dependent Care FSA once a year, at open enrollment, for the next calendar year. Many hold it in October and November. Check your employer’s dates.
Sign-up dates near Chantilly
- Federal employees (FSAFEDS)
- November 9 to December 14, 2026
- Fairfax County Public Schools
- Until 4:30 pm, October 30, 2026
- Other employers
- Check with HR, and don’t wait for a reminder.
Checked October 22, 2026.
Starting mid-year
Children can start K2 the month they turn 2, including mid-year, when a space is available. Starting at a new child care provider can let you change your FSA election during the year, if your plan allows it. Ask HR soon after your start date, because plans set a deadline.
Claims
Getting your money back.
Choose your amount
at open enrollment. Your employer holds it back from each paycheck, before taxes.
Pay tuition as usual.
Tuition is billed through Brightwheel in equal monthly installments.
Get your receipt.
Your Brightwheel account has a year-end tax statement with the school’s tax ID: Payments, then Statements.
Send in your claim
after each month of care. Plans pay back care that has already happened.
Estimate
Estimate your tax savings.
A rough estimate for planning. Your plan and your taxes decide the real number.
At 5.75%: Virginia’s rate on income over $17,000.
Your estimate
About $2,660 a year in taxes you wouldn’t pay
That’s about $220 a month, on $7,500 set aside.
An estimate, not tax advice. The FSA can’t be more than the lower-earning spouse’s pay, and your plan’s rules apply. Check with your benefits administrator or a tax adviser.
The tax credit
The FSA and the child care tax credit.
- For 2026, the child and dependent care credit can be up to 50% of costs. It counts only up to $3,000 of costs for one child or $6,000 for two or more.
- For married couples earning over $150,000, the rate slides down to 20%.
- It can’t be more than the tax you owe.
- Money you run through an FSA reduces the costs the credit can use, so a household using the full $7,500 usually can’t claim the credit too.
- For many two-income families the FSA saves more. Families with lower incomes should compare.
- A tax preparer can run both.
FAQ
Questions families ask.
What is a Dependent Care FSA?
A work benefit. You choose an amount at open enrollment. Your employer sets it aside from your pay before income and payroll taxes, and you use it to pay yourself back for child care while you work.
How much can we set aside?
Up to $7,500 a year per household in 2026 and 2027. It’s $3,750 if you’re married and file separately, and never more than the lower-earning spouse’s pay.
Does preschool tuition count?
Yes. Tuition for K2, K3 and K4 counts as care under IRS rules, on every day plan.
What about kindergarten to 2nd grade?
The school day is education, so it doesn’t count. Early care, after care, drop-in care and Summer Day Camp do.
When do we sign up?
At your employer’s open enrollment, usually in the fall for the next calendar year. You need to choose again every year. Federal employees enroll November 9 to December 14, 2026.
Our child is starting mid-year. Can we start an FSA then?
Often, yes. Starting with a new child care provider can let you change your election during the year, if your plan allows it. Ask HR right after your start date.
What does Shining Light give us for claims?
Your Brightwheel account has a year-end tax statement with the school’s tax ID.
Can we use the FSA and the child care tax credit?
Both reduce your taxes on the same costs, so FSA dollars lower the amount the credit can use. Many two-income families save more with the FSA. A tax preparer can compare them for you.
What happens to money we don’t use?
Most plans follow “use it or lose it,” so choose an amount you’ll spend. Some plans, including FSAFEDS, add a grace period to March 15 of the next year.
Do you also accept assistance programs?
Yes. Shining Light accepts Military and DoD Fee Assistance and the Child Care Subsidy Program. Eligibility and the family’s portion are determined by each program.
Let’s talk
Come and see the light for yourself.
Preschool for ages 2 to 4, kindergarten through 2nd grade, and care from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm in Chantilly.
571-752-6994 · Monday to Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
General information, not tax advice. Check with your benefits administrator or a tax adviser.