Am I a dependent if I live with my parents but have a child?

Question

My son and I live with my parents and they pay the mortgage, but I pay for all of my sons food, medicine, clothes, diapers, daycare and medicine. Am I still there dependant?

Answer 1

If they claim you on their federal taxes, then yes you are and your son is your dependant for tax purposes.  If you are looking to get state aid, then this is a situation they will look at and possibly deny because you are able to get support from them.  Still try, if nothing else food stamps offer great assistance.

Answer 2

Just because you live with your parents and they claim you on their tax return, that does not mean that they should have claimed you.  If you did not pass one of the dependency tests then they should not claim you as their dependent.

There are two types of dependents: qualifying child and qualifying relatives.  There are seven tests you have to pass in order to be a dependent.  The tests are similar, but a little different for the child versus the relative.

Your status depends on several factors -

How old you are

If you are married or not

If you earned more than $3,400

Your relationship to the taxpayer

If you are a full time student or not

If you lived with them 12 months of the year

If you provided over half of your own support

If your parents provided over half of your support

These same factors apply to your son as well.

You do not give enough information to determine your status for sure - but if you are paying for day care and all of the other stuff for your son, then you probably are making over $3,400 a year and if you are not a full time student - then you do not qualify for your parents to take you as a deduction...  If you do not qualify, then your son most likely will not qualify for them to take him as a deduction either.

If you are a full time student and under the age of 24, then your parents probably can claim you - it will come down to who pays more than 50% of your support.

If support is the issue, you have to look at the costs for mortgage, repairs, utilities, phone, car expenses, food, clothing, incidentals, education, medical, recreation and child care.

The best thing for you to do is go to www.irs. gov and find Publication 501.  You will find the guidelines for a qualified child and a qualified relative.

Answer 3

It depends how old you are and if you are a full time student

Answer 4

YEP, sounds like you and your son are their dependents

a dependent can't have a dependent

Glad you're working on supporting your son, but you have to  be able to support yourself and your son to file taxes taking your own exemption and your son's

Not quite enough info to be sure. . . how much income did you earn?  not welfare, AFDC, WIC, food stamps, but earned income?  If less than $3400, they can claim you.....  how old are you?  are you a fulltime student?

Answer 5

You are your parents' dependent child if:

1.   You are under age 19, or under age 24 and a full-time student

2.  You lived with your parents more than six month of the year.

3.  You do not provide over half of your own support.  The support you provide your child is not counted as your own support.  The fair rental value of your lodging is counted as support provided by your parents.

You are your parents' dependent relative (a different category of dependent) if

1.  You are not their dependent child.

2.  You had less than $3,400 of income subject to tax.

3.  Your parents provided over half of your support.

If you are a dependent of your parents, you cannot claim an exemption for yourself or your child.  If your child satisfies the criteria listed above for dependent child, your parents may claim your child.

If you are not a dependent of your parents, you can claim yourself and your child.  If you do not claim your child, your parents can claim your child, but in this case you have first priority on your child's exemption.

Answer 6

You very possibly are their dependent.  If you are under 19, or are under 24 and a full time student, you most likely are their dependent unless you are providing over half of your OWN support - and the housing and anything they provide for you counts as part of your support.

Answer 7

If they claim you as a dependant then you are especially if you are under the age of 18.

Answer 8

You can claim an exemption for a qualifyingchild or qualifying relative only if these three tests are met.

1. Dependent taxpayer test.

2. Joint return test

3. Citizen or resident test

Dependancy test is usually 50% of ALL support.