Hmmm... This article by smart Asset says I should be able to do both....
https://smartasset.com/taxes/dependent-care-fsa-vs-dependent-care-tax-credit
In their example, they said you can claim the credit with additional out of pocket expenses that the dcFSA didn't cover...
I'm pretty sure that financial writer is mistaken. If you find a tax preparer, CPA, enrolled agent who says the same thing, I'd be very interested in hearing it.
You may want to review IRS Pub 503.
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p503.pdfFrom page 13
Example 2. Randall is married and both he and his
wife are employed. Each has earned income in excess of
$6,000. They have two children, Anne and Andy, ages 2
and 4, who attend a daycare facility licensed and regula-
ted by the state. Randall's work-related expenses are
$6,000 for the year.
Randall's employer has a dependent care assistance
program as part of its cafeteria plan, which allows employ-
ees to make pre-tax contributions to a dependent care
flexible spending arrangement. Randall has elected to
take the maximum $5,000 exclusion from his salary to
cover dependent care expenses through this program.
Although the dollar limit for his work-related expenses
is $6,000 (two or more qualifying persons), Randall fig-
ures his credit on only $1,000 of the $6,000 work-related
expense paid. This is because his dollar limit is reduced
as shown next.
Randall's Reduced Dollar Limit
1) Maximum allowable expenses for two
qualifying persons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $6,000
2) Minus: Dependent care benefits selected
from employer's cafeteria plan and
excluded from Randall's income . . . . . . . . . . . . . −5,000
3) Reduced dollar limit on work-related expenses
Randall can use for the credit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,000