Congressman Pushes a Tax Credit for Caregivers

When her mother fell seriously ill, Abaree Rayfield left behind her life in Atlanta, Georgia, to return to her hometown of Columbus.

“I pretty much dropped everything that I was doing,” including one of her two jobs, says Rayfield, 66, who cared for her mother for eight years.

She continued working remotely as an administrative assistant, giving her the flexibility to handle her mother’s needs but not enough income to cover thousands of dollars in caregiving expenses. Rayfield says she found herself paying for everything from her mother’s groceries, to gas, to personal care items.

It’s stories like these that prompted U.S. Rep. Mike Carey (R-Columbus) to sponsor the Credit for Caring Act. The measure, which he introduced in March, would give eligible caregivers a federal tax credit of 30 percent of qualifying caregiving expenses exceeding $2,000 a year, up to $5,000. Individuals who earn more than $7,500 a year could be eligible for the credit.

“You talk to the thousands of constituents that I talk to in a year, and everybody’s going through it in one way, shape or form,” Carey says. Some are caring for loved ones while holding down two or three jobs. “Those are the folks that really need this type of help,” he says.

In his own family, his mother has been a caregiver twice, Carey says, first for his stepfather during his terminal cancer and now for her current husband, who is recovering from a brain bleed.

Many caregivers reduce their hours or quit work to care for their loved one, says Rhonda Richards, an AARP government affairs director on the family and caregiving team. The tax credit could help them “stay in the workforce and offset a portion of expenses,” Richards says.

That’s why the Credit for Caring Act is AARP’s top priority for inclusion in tax legislation this year, she says. AARP led a letter to Congress from more than 100 organizations urging passage of the bill.

In addition to the federal bill, AARP is pushing for state tax credits in legislatures across the country. Two states—Oklahoma and Nebraska—have enacted state tax credits of up to $3,000 per year for eligible family caregivers. The credits would help cover out-of-pocket costs, such as hiring a home-care aide or paying for home modifications.

Proponents say tax credits would also save taxpayers money by helping people stay in their homes and communities—and out of more costly institutions as they age.

Polls show strong support

In Ohio, 1.46 million caregivers provide 1.37 billion hours of unpaid care a year, according to an AARP analysis of 2021 data.

An AARP poll, conducted in early 2025, found that 84 percent of U.S. voters age 18-plus support the federal tax credit. Support came from women and men, Democrats and Republicans, and people of all education levels and races. The poll surveyed 4,000 voters nationally and in the 28 most competitive congressional districts.

Sandra Hamilton, 77, invested $62,000 to build an accessible cottage—called an accessory dwelling unit—on her property in Cincinnati so her mother, Adele, could live in a safe, nearby setting. Adele, who died at 93 in 2022, started using a walker after falling and couldn’t negotiate the stairs leading into her home.

The cottage allowed her to stay active and maintain her busy social life, and Hamilton was close to help her with daily tasks.

“I don’t know that we would even have qualified for that had it been available back then, but it is certainly something that I support,” Hamilton says of the federal tax credit proposal. “I could do for her what needed to be done.”

The federal bill didn’t advance after being introduced last year, but Richards thinks its time has come. “There’s definitely been a greater level of awareness,” she says. “More and more people are identifying with the issue because more and more people are experiencing it.”

Carey agrees. “Whether you’re in Ohio or in California or Florida or Montana or all points in between, this is something that affects everybody equally,” he says.

The bill has bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress, and President Donald Trump indicated his support for the concept during the 2024 campaign.

“I think we’ve got a really good chance this year,” Carey says.

Mary Dieter, a freelance journalist, spent two decades covering Indiana state policy and politics for The Courier-Journal of Louisville, Kentucky.

Also of interest:

• Aging in Place: 5 Changes to Make to Your Home That Won't Break the Bank
• 12 Ways for Family Caregivers to Deal With Their Toughest Days
• What to Tell Grandkids When a Grandparent Has Dementia