OVERVIEW
You could get $4,000* off your taxable income for each dependent you claim in 2015. So who can you claim? *$4,050 in 2017. Note: The content of this video applies only to taxes prepared for 2015. It is included here for reference only.
Beginning with the 2018 tax year, exemption deductions are no longer taken on your personal tax returns. The information below if for tax years prior to 2018.
Video transcript:
Who qualifies as a dependent?
You could get $4,000 ($4,050 in 2017) off your taxable income for each dependent you claim.
So who can you claim? Well, it could be an uncle, a grandchild, a parent, a nephew, or even a freeloading boyfriend.
How do they qualify? In general, you support them, they live with you and they are a resident or citizen of the United States, Canada, or Mexico.
But dependents come in two types, children or other people you support.
Children can include your child, a grandchild, a niece or a nephew, or even a brother or sister. Children must be under 19 years old, or 24 if they are a full-time student.
Other people you support can include those that the IRS says are qualifying relatives, such as a parent, a grandparent, an aunt or uncle, or an in-law.
Or people who are qualifying non-relatives like a friend or a cousin or someone you are just helping out.
Qualifying relatives can’t have income that is greater than the exemption amount for any particular tax year. And while qualifying relatives don’t need to live with you, qualifying non-relatives do in order to claim them on your tax return.
So let’s recap, who qualifies? It can be children and adults or relatives and friends.
For more information about claiming dependents and other tax topics, visit TurboTax.com.
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