DEPENDENTS

You are allowed one dependency exemption for each person you can claim as a dependent. The term 'dependent' means:

• A qualifying child, or

• A qualifying relative.

An exemption for a qualifying child or qualifying relative can be claimed only if the three following tests are met.

·         Dependent taxpayer test - You cannot claim an exemption for a person if that person is claiming a dependent or their own                                                             exemption.

·         Joint return test - You generally cannot claim a married person as a dependent if they file a joint return.

·         Citizen or resident test - The person must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, U.S. resident, or a resident of Canada or Mexico

                                                     for some part of the year.

 

To claim an exemption for a qualifying child, the child must meet the following five tests.

·         Relationship test - Be the son, daughter, stepchild, eligible foster child, or a descendant of any of them, or brother, sister,

                                           half brother, half sister, stepbrother, stepsister, or a descendant of any of them.

·         Age test - Must be under age 19, or under age 24, if a full-time student. If permanently and totally disabled, there is no age                                limit.

·         Residency test - Must have lived with you for more than one-half the year.

·         Support test - Cannot have provided more than half their own support

·         Qualifying child of more than one person test - You must be able to claim the child using the tie breaker rules if the child is

                                                                                            a qualifying child for more than one person.

 

There are four tests that must be met for a person to be a qualifying relative.

·         Not a qualifying child test - A child cannot be your qualifying relative if the child is your qualifying child or the qualifying child

                                                          of anyone else.

·         Member of household or relationship test - Must live with you all year as a member of your household or be related to you

                                                                                     in one of the ways for relatives who do not have to live with you. The

                                                                                     relationship must not violate local law.

·         Gross income test - Generally, you cannot claim an exemption for a person that has gross income of $4,200 or more (TY

                                             2019).

·         Support test - Generally you must provide more than half of the person's total support during the tax year.

 

The above rules are basic and are defined in more detail in IRS Publication 501. A phase-out of exemptions occurs when your adjusted gross income goes above a certain amount.

Social Security Numbers for Dependents
A social security number (SSN) is required for any person for whom you claim an exemption. If your dependent does not have and cannot get an SSN, you must list the individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN), or adoption taxpayer identification number (ATIN).

Some other important notes for your dependents
Usually, the parent who has physical custody of a child for more than 6 months of the year is allowed to claim the exemption for that child. However, there are two instances when someone other than the custodial parent (guardian) can claim the child. The non-custodial parent can claim the exemption when the custodial parent signs a waiver, Form 8332 (Release of Claim to Exemption for Child of Divorced or Separated Parents), or when the non-custodial parent meets the requirements for divorce executed before 1985 and not modified after 1984.