New Online Application System
Beginning in January 2026, applications for Nebraska’s School Readiness Tax Credit (SRTC) will take a big step forward. Instead of filling out paper forms and sending them through the mail, applicants will now submit everything online through the Nebraska Department of Revenue’s (NDOR) secure e-DASH portal (Electronic Document and Application Submission Hub). This change eliminates the uncertainty and delays of relying on the postal service and gives applicants a simpler, more reliable way to complete the process.
Moving to an all-digital system makes it easier than ever for child care professionals and program owners to get their applications in quickly. Since tax credits are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis until the annual cap is reached, every day counts. By applying through e-DASH, users can upload the required documents in one place and receive confirmation that their submission was received—something that wasn’t possible when forms had to be mailed. That means greater peace of mind for the early childhood educators and providers who count on these tax credits as part of their household or program budgets.
Simply navigate to either the refundable or nonrefundable School Readiness Tax Credit page to find the eDASH portal to complete your application in January.
This update helps NDOR serve Nebraskans more effectively. Digital submissions cut down on paperwork and allow staff to process applications more efficiently. The result is a more effective system that reduces stress for applicants and gets resources where they’re needed sooner.
New Annual Explanation of Payments (EOP) Report
In 2024, one of the biggest frustrations child care program owners encountered in applying for the nonrefundable School Readiness Tax Credit involved sorting through their monthly Explanation of Payments (EOP) to accurately document their reimbursements for the child care subsidy. This not only slowed down the application process on the part of providers, it did the same for the review process on the part of NDOR. However, beginning in 2026, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (NDHHS) will issue a new, annual EOP report to each provider summarizing their subsidy billing for the previous calendar year. While program owners still have the option to use their monthly EOPs to complete the nonrefundable School Readiness Tax Credit application, NDOR will also accept the new, annual EOP report, simplifying the process for applicants and reviewers alike. NDHHS is expected to distribute this report by February 1, 2026.
