Working Families Relief Act

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide further tax incentives for dependent care assistance. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Working Families Relief Act 2. Expansion of exclusion for dependent care assistance programs (a) Expansion (1) In general Subparagraph (A) of section 129(a)(2) shall not exceed $5,000 ($2,500 in the case of a separate return by a married individual shall not exceed— (i) except as provided in clause (ii), $10,500, and (ii) in the case of a separate return by a married individual, ½ the amount in effect under clause (i). . (2) Inflation adjustment Paragraph (2) of section 129(a) of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (D) Adjustment for inflation In the case of taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, the $10,500 amount under subparagraph (A)(i) shall be increased by an amount equal to— (i) such dollar amount, multiplied by (ii) the cost-of-living adjustment determined under section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year in which the taxable year begins, determined by substituting calendar year 2016 calendar year 1992 If any amount as adjusted under the preceding sentence is not a multiple of $100, such amount shall be rounded to the next lowest multiple of $100. . (b) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to amounts paid or incurred in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2016. 3. Allowance of credit for small employer dependent care assistance program start up costs (a) In general Section 45E (1) by striking pension plan employee benefit (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection: (f) Application to dependent care assistance programs For purposes of this section— (1) a dependent care assistance program of an eligible employer which meets the requirements of section 129(d) shall be treated as an eligible employer plan, and (2) this section (including the limitation under subsection (b)) shall be applied separately with respect to any such dependent care assistance program of the eligible employer and other eligible employer plans of such eligible employer. . (b) Conforming amendments (1) Section 38(b)(14) pension plan employee benefit (2) The heading for section 45E of such Code is amended by striking pension plan employee benefit (3) The table of sections for subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by striking pension plan employee benefit (c) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to costs paid or incurred in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2016, with respect to dependent care assistance programs first effective after such date. 4. Credit for matching dependent care assistance program contributions by employers (a) In general Subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 45S. Credit for employer dependent care assistance program matching contributions (a) In general For purposes of section 38, the employer dependent care assistance matching contribution credit determined under this section for any taxable year is an amount equal to the lesser of— (1) the amount of contributions made by the employer with respect to employees to a dependent care assistance program that meets the requirements of section 129(d), or (2) the amount of contributions to such dependent care assistance program elected by such employees under a cafeteria plan of the employer to which section 125 applies. (b) Limitation The credit allowed under subsection (a) for any taxable year with respect to any employee shall not exceed $1,000. (c) Definitions Any term used in this section which is used in section 129 shall have the meaning given such term under section 129. . (b) Conforming amendments (1) Section 38(b) plus , plus (37) the employer dependent care assistance matching contribution credit determined under section 45S(a). . (2) The table of sections for subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 Sec. 45S. Credit for employer dependent care assistance program matching contributions. . (c) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2016.

Summary: Working Families Relief Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase and expand tax incentives for employer-provided dependent care assistance. The bill increases the limit on the amount excludible from the gross income of an employee for employer-provided dependent care assistance and requires annual inflation adjustments to such increased limit after 2017. The bill also establishes tax credits for: (1) small employer dependent care assistance program start-up costs, and (2) employer matching contributions for dependent care assistance programs.