You may claim this income exclusion along with the tax credit for the same adoption, basically doubling your adoption tax break.
The only limitation: You cannot use the exclusion amount and credit to write off the same expense. For example, if your company reimburses your adoption travel costs of $8,000, you cannot use these expenses as part of your credit filing. But all other eligible costs up to the full credit amount may be counted.
Other credit considerations
While you can adopt a U.S.- or foreign-born child, in most cases, the youngster must be younger than 18. The age limit is waived if the child is physically or mentally challenged.
You cannot count expenses related to surrogate parents or the adoption of your spouse's child in figuring your allowable credit.
Married couples generally must file a joint return to take the adoption credit or exclusion. If you file as married filing separately, the credit is available only if you meet special requirements.
The credit amount is per child, not per year. So if the adoption of your son or daughter takes four years and costs $17,000, you will be able to claim only $12,650 of your expenses during that whole time.
And if you claimed adoption expenses for the same child in prior tax years, it will affect this year's claim. For example, if you claimed a $3,000 credit in connection with a domestic adoption in 2011 and paid an additional $12,650 of qualified adoption expenses in 2012 when the adoption became final, the maximum credit you can claim on your 2012 return is $9,650 -- the $12,650 dollar limit less the $3,000 in qualified adoption expenses you already claimed.
Even if the adoption of a U.S. child is not completed, you still can claim the credit for your expenses in the unsuccessful adoption attempt. Remember, however, if you are adopting a child from another country, the credit is only allowed when the adoption is finalized.
The credit begins phasing out if your modified adjusted gross income exceeds $189,710. You can't claim the credit at all if you make more than $229,710. The same limits apply to either single adoptive parents or the total income of married couples filing jointly.