How Do I Claim Someone As a Dependent on Taxes?
When you prepare your federal income tax return, it's likely you want to seek every possible deduction to reduce the amount of tax you owe. One way to do this is by claiming your children and other qualifying relatives as dependents. Each dependent claimed lowers your total taxable income by one exemption.
Each dependent must meet age, relationship, residency and support tests. Additionally, each person can only be claimed as a dependent on one income tax return per year. So if you share custody with a former spouse, only one of you can claim the child.
Use either Form 1040 or Form 1040A to file your income taxes. Although Form 1040EZ is simpler to prepare, it doesn't permit you to claim dependents.
On the first page to your tax return, you must enter the full names of your dependents, their Social Security numbers and their relationship to you. If you have more than four dependents, check the appropriate box and list their information on a separate page. Claiming a child generally requires that they live with you for more than half the year, they don't provide more than half of their own financial support and are under the age of 19, or under 24 if a full-time student. Claiming adults as your dependents is allowed if you satisfy similar requirements.
You can claim one exemption for each dependent you claim plus one for yourself and one for your spouse. An exemption is a fixed amount that is subject to change each tax year and reduces your taxable income in the same way deductions do. In 2012 for example, the exemption amount is $3,800. You will multiply this amount by the number of exemptions you are allowed to take and enter the total on the second page of your tax return.
Evaluate whether you can claim the child tax credit. After entering all dependent information, the form allows you to check a box for each dependent that qualifies you to claim a child tax credit. Generally, you can claim the credit for any dependent children that are under the age of 17 at all times during the tax year. If you qualify, the credit offers a dollar-for-dollar reduction of your final tax debt for the year.
You can claim one exemption for each dependent you claim plus one for yourself and one for your spouse. An exemption is a fixed amount that is subject to change each tax year and reduces your taxable income in the same way deductions do. In 2012 for example, the exemption amount is $3,800. You will multiply this amount by the number of exemptions you are allowed to take and enter the total on the second page of your tax return.
