What do I need to claim a dependent?

For tax years 2018 to 2025, there are no personal exemptions for dependents as well as the individuals filing. Prior to 2018, you qualify for $4,050 for your dependent’s personal exemption.

Here are the requirements in claiming a qualifying dependent:

• They must be a qualifying child or relative
• Be U.S. citizen, a U.S. national, U.S. resident, or a resident of Canada or Mexico
• They cannot be married, claimed by someone else, or are claiming a dependent of their own

Claiming a qualifying child

In order to claim a qualifying child, there are specific requirements.

• The child can be your sibling, son, daughter, stepchild, foster child, adopted child, or grandchild.
• Your child must be under age 19 or under age 24 if they’re a full time student. If your child is permanently and totally disabled, there is no age limit.
• They must live with you for more than half the year.
• You must provide more than half of their financial support.

Claiming a qualifying relative

If you are claiming a qualifying relative, here are the requirements.

• They must live with you all year or be on the IRS qualifying relative list of “relatives who don’t have to live with you” by clicking here
• They cannot make more than a set gross income based on each tax year (For example, they must not make more than $4,300 in 2020)
• You provide more than half of their support

You may also click here for the IRS tool to help determine who you can claim as a qualifying dependent if you need further help.

This entry was posted on Monday, November 2nd, 2020 at 10:08 pm and is filed under Personal Information. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.