Questions About Claiming My Son on My Taxes
The Internal Revenue Service provides specific guidelines to claim your son as a dependent on your taxes. Each dependent reduces your taxable income. According to the IRS, you can deduct $3,650 for each exemption on your 2011 tax return. If your son is a minor, living with you and supported by you, claiming him on your taxes may be simple. However, there are many exceptions.
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Qualifications as a Child
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To qualify as your dependent child, your son must meet certain criteria. He must be under 19 years old at the end of the year. If he is a full-time college student, he must be under 24 years old. The age qualification does not apply if he is permanently and totally disabled. You cannot claim your son if he provides more than half of his own support during the year. Your son must have lived with you for more than half of the previous year. The IRS does allow some exceptions to this rule for temporary absences due to school, vacation or medical care. If your son files a tax return, he cannot claim an exemption for himself if you claim him.
Qualifying Relative
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If your son is over 24 years old, you may be able to claim him as a qualifying relative. According the IRS, you may claim your son if his gross income is less than the exemption amount, and you provided more than half of his support. He should live with you for more than half the year and he cannot be claimed by any other taxpayer. Often this occurs when a child is disabled.
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Custodial Parent
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If parents separate, only one parent can claim the child. Usually, you can claim your son on your taxes if he lived with you for more than six months of the year. The non-custodial parent can only claim him on taxes if the custodial parent provides a Form 8332 or a written declaration that he will not claim your son. Attach the form to your tax return when filing.
Tax Benefits
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Each dependent that you claim on your taxes provides another personal exemption. If your son is a child, your ability to claim him may also entitle you take the dependent care tax credit, child tax credit or earned income credit. Each saves you money on your taxes. If you are an unmarried parent, you may also qualify to file as head of household, often resulting in a lower tax rate and higher deduction.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit tax forms image by Chad McDermott from Fotolia.com
