Things You'll Need:
- Education transcripts
- Proof of childcare payments
- Proof of age
- Proof of adoption or guardianship
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Step 1
Determine if a person meets the definition of a dependent as set forth by the IRS. To qualify, a dependent child must be a birth child, a legal stepchild or a foster child in your care.
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Step 2
Consider claiming your siblings as dependents. Dependents can be blood siblings, adopted siblings, or stepbrothers or stepsisters in your care. Descendents of any of these also qualify, provided you materially support them.
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Step 3
A dependent must be under 19 at the end of the year you are claiming. The IRS also lets you claim a dependents age 24 or under if they are enrolled in school full-time. You also can claim an exemption for materially supporting anyone with a disability.
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Step 4
Determine if the living arrangements meet IRS rules. The child must have lived with you for more than half of the year and relied on your financial support for at least 6 months out of the year.
Comments
rajan34 said
on 7/8/2009 The above explanation of "How to meet the IRS definition of dependent?" is not complete because it does not cover cases of dependent parents or step-parents.
Here are a few points on which clarification would be welcome:
1) Can a parent or step-parent be claimed as a dependent on the IRS I T Return?
2)Does the term "providing material support" include also the payment in full of medical expenses incurred by the dependent?
3)If the taxable income of the person claiming his/her parent as dependent on I T Form is substantial (much above the maximum threshold for MediCal eligibility in California and for Medicaid in other states), will the parent claimed as dependent be eligible to receive MediCal/Medicaid benefits?