WHAT IS A DEPENDENT?

WHAT IS A DEPENDENT? according to the IRS, a dependent is a person that financially depend from you and had lived with you for more than half of the year. Now lets get something clear, that person must be related to you somehow, this are.

SON

DAUGHTER

GRANDCHILDREN

NIECE

NEPHEW

PARENTS

OR OTHER PERSON RELATED TO YOU SOMEHOW.

CAN I BE MY OWN DEPENDENT IF I PAY MY OWN EXPENSES? NO you can NOT claim yourself as a dependent. You can claim an exemption for yourself, but that's all.

Let's review some scenarios with questions and answers from our clients...

QUESTION #1

MY BROTHER LIVE WITH ME AND I SUPPORT HIM AND HE DOESN'T WORK, CAN I CLAIM HIM ON MY TAXES?

ANSWER #1 

YES, you can, as long as he doesn't file taxes, claiming his own exemption, you can claim his. Now be aware if he is over 24 you can not claim him as minor or student unless he is completely disable.

QUESTION #2

MY GIRLFRIEND LIVE WITH ME, CAN I CLAIM HER AS A DEPENDENT? 

ANSWER #2

Yes, you can, under section as other. If you two decide to marry, you can file as married filling jointly and have better tax bracket and more benefit. 

QUESTION#3

CAN I CLAIM MY DOG AS A DEPENDENT, HIS FOOD IS VERY EXPENSIVE?

This is my Dependent sir, can i claim her on my taxes?

ANSWER #3   NO

But under certain circumstances, and only if your pet is a Certified Service Animal, you can deduct on Schedule A, Grooming, food, Training Expenses, Medical and veterinary care expenses and some other if you decide to Itemized deductions, but be aware, in most of the cases is better to choose standard deductions.

QUESTION #4

MY HUSBAND DO NOT HAVE A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, CAN I CLAIM HIM AS A DEPENDENT?

ANSWER #4

NO, if you two are married you must file as married filing jointly and apply for an ITIN for him, which will only grant him, the opportunity to file taxes, but this will remove the EITC and the CTC from your taxes until he can obtain his own social security number.

hope this will clarify the dependent topic, but if you have any type of question regarding this or other topic, please fill free to let me know and i will glad reply to you.