of this section— (1) an dependent care assistance program of an eligible employer which meets the requirements of section 129(d) shall be treated as an eligible employer plan, and (2) this section (including the limitation under subsection (b)) shall be applied separately with respect to any such dependent care assistance program of the eligible employer and other eligible employer plans of such eligible employer. . (b) Conforming amendments (1) Section 38(b)(14) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking pension plan and inserting employee benefit . (2) The heading for section 45E of such Code is amended by striking pension plan and inserting employee benefit . (3) The table of sections for subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by striking pension plan in the item relating to section 45E and inserting employee benefit . (c) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to costs paid or incurred in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, with respect to dependent care assistance programs first effective after such date. 4. Credit for matching dependent care assistance program contributions by employers (a) In general Subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting after section 45R the following new section: 45S. Credit for employer dependent care assistance program matching contributions (a) In general For purposes of section 38, the employer dependent care assistance matching contribution credit determined under this section for any taxable year is an amount equal to the lesser of— (1) the amount of contributions made by the employer with respect to employees to a dependent care assistance program that meets the requirements of section 129(d), or (2) the amount of contributions to such dependent care assistance program elected by such employees under a cafeteria plan of the employer to which section 125 applies. (b) Limitation The credit allowed under subsection (a) for