Financial Considerations

Financial Considerations

The costs associated with adoption vary. The typical costs include: agency fees, legal fees, birth parent expenses such as counseling and medical expenses. There are a number of financial resources you may be able to utilize to help with the fees.

Employee Benefits

It is common for employers today to provide some type of adoption reimbursement for related expenses. Reimbursement benefits usually range from $2,000 to $10,000 for direct adoption expenses. The policies may vary on what qualifies for a direct adoption expense. Check with your human resources department to see if your company offers adoption benefits. It is possible that your inquiry may lead to the company investigating and potentially adding that benefit if they do not already have it.

Federal Tax Credit

The federal tax credit for adoption (S.148 & H.R. 622) was included in the Tax Reconciliation Bill (H.R. 1836) and passed on May 26, 2001. This law signed by President Bush includes the following benefits:

• The tax credit was made permanent;
• The amount of credit increased from $5,000 to $10,000;
• Income limitations were adjusted allowing incomes under $150,000 to receive full credit and adjusted credits graduating down to zero at incomes of $190,000 or more;
• The maximum amount of credit will be adjusted to match inflation;
• Eliminated the need for families who adopt special needs children to show expenses.

For additional information contact the Internal Revenue Service at or call 1.800.829.3676 and request information on the Adoption Tax Credit and Tax Exclusion from publication 968.

State Tax Credit

Contact your states adoption specialist to inquire whether or not your state provides a tax credit if you adopt a child from a public adoption agency.

Military Benefits

In most cases the U.S. military will reimburse up to $2,000 per child for related one-time adoption costs. This reimbursement is for active-duty personnel and the reimbursement is available whether you are adopting from within the U.S. or internationally. The adoption must take place through a state adoption agency or a private non-profit agency. The $2,000 reimbursement usually is made once the adoption is finalized.

Dependency Exemption

Although this is not an adoption specific benefit, as adoptive parents you qualify for taking the same dependency exemption on your income taxes as other parents. You are qualified for the dependency exemption even if the adoption has not yet been finalized.

Adoption Loans

Some life insurance policies, banks and credit unions are avenues you can pursue for potential loans when you are seeking to adopt. If you use the loan route, it is important to put a plan in place for paying back the loan as quickly as possible. Some couples, who use loans in their adoption, pay them off with tax credit monies or from employer reimbursement monies after the adoption is finalized.

Private Grants

There may be a private grant opportunity that you may qualify for when pursuing adoption. The grant monies may be available for families that are more socio-economically challenged or to encourage families to adopt special needs children. Contact the National Adoption Foundation at 203.791.3811 for more information.

For more information, please contact us at adoption@chsmo.org or 314.968.2350 x240