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Dependent Pages

Can you claim a Dependent?

Answer a few simple questions about your relationship with an individual and the tool will tell you if you can claim the person as a dependent with your 2023 tax year return. If someone else wants to claim the dependent, answer the questions from that person's perspective. Steps below on what to do if someone falsely claimed your dependent.

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Dependent Qualification
Is this individual e.g. child a U.S. citizen, a U.S. resident alien, a U.S. national, or a resident of Canada or Mexico?
Relationship Qualification
Is the child either your son, daughter, stepchild, foster child, brother, sister, half brother, half sister, stepbrother, or stepsister, or a descendant (e.g. niece, nephew, grandchild etc.) of any of them?
Age Qualification
Is the child either one of these three:
1. Under the age of 19 as of December 31, 2024 and younger than you (or your spouse if married filing jointly). OR
2. Under age 24 as of December 31, 2024, a student, and younger than you (or your spouse if married filing jointly). OR
3. Any age if permanently and totally disabled.
Residency Qualification
Did the child live with you in the US for more than 6 months during 2024? Generally, a child of divorced or separated parents is the qualifying child of the custodial parent.
Child Support Qualification
Did you provide support for this child for more than 6 months during 2024?
Child's Tax Return
Did the child file a joint return for 2024 (unless that joint return is filed only to claim a refund of withheld income tax or estimated tax paid)?
Claimed By Another Taxpayer
Are you filing a married filing joint return and you and/or your spouse is/are claimed as a dependent by an other taxpayer?
Dependent Of Another Person
Does this child also qualify to be a dependent of another person?
Details
The custodial parent is the parent with whom the child lived for the greater number of nights during the year. If a child is treated as the qualifying child of the noncustodial parent under the rules for children of divorced or separated parents (or parents who live apart), described earlier, a noncustodial parent can claim the child if the following applies click here.
If somebody claimed a child incorrectly e.g in the case of divorced or separated parents (or parents who live apart) learn about the IRS Tie Braker rules. If somebody already claimed your dependent on a tax return for the given tax year, you can prepare your return(s) on eFile.com before you download, print and mail them in but you can NOT e-file and claim the dependent. What to do if your dependent has been claimed? Once you submitted your return you will need to contact the IRS and they will apply the tie braker rules.

Dependents are generally people (children, relatives even certain friends) who receive support, primarily financially, from someone who will claim them on their taxes for certain deductions and credits. This dependent tool or DEPENDucator will answer if you can claim a person as a qualifying dependent on your Tax Return.

No, you can not claim this person as your Dependent.
This individual might qualify as your Qualifying Relative Find out
Yes, you can claim this person as your Dependent.
A Dependent might qualify for the Child Tax Credit, worth up to $2,000 per child?
Find out
Can you claim the Dependent Care Credit for this person, worth up to $2,100? Find out
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Frequently Asked Questions about a Dependent

Who qualifies as a Dependent?

Dependents are generally individuals who receive support, primarily financially etc. throughout a given tax year from someone who will claim them on their taxes for certain tax deductions and credits.

It's defined by the relationship status between you and the other individual. The above tax tool, or DEPENDucator, will provide answers if you can claim a person as a dependent. If you do not qualify to claim the dependent, please check if the individual might qualify as your qualifying relative or other dependent with your tax return.

Learn more here if your dependent needs to or should file a tax return as well. They may need to file if they are a teenager or adult who earned their own income. You can claim a dependent on your return even if that person files his or her own tax return. The dependent should indicate on his/her return on eFile.com that he/she is being claimed on another person's tax return as a dependent.

One or more individuals might qualify as dependents on a tax return, it does not mean they also qualify for the child tax credit. Find out here who qualifies for the the child tax credit and/or the child or dependent care expense credit.

  • If another person, such as an ex-spouse, relative, etc., has falsely claimed an individual, use the DEPENDucator above to determine if you are the only person who is eligible to claim the individual.
  • If you are the only person entitled to claim the individual, follow these steps to dispute the false dependent claim.
  • Learn more about the IRS's tie-breaker rule in cases like this.
  • You can prepare a tax return on eFile.com, but not e-file it, if your dependent has already been claimed by another person for the 2023 tax year at the time you plan to e-file your return. Once you have prepared your return, download the return from your eFile.com account, print the return, and mail it to the IRS and the state.
  • Prevent false dependent claims in future tax years by obtaining an IP PIN from the IRS. Steps to obtain an IP PIN for you and your dependent.. The IP-PIN or Identity Protection Personal Identification Number will only allow you to e-file a return for a given SSN.

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