Sometimes we’re so busy growing up that we forget they’re growing old.
Everyone knows that claiming a dependent on your income tax return can get you a significantly larger refund. For every dependent you claim on your taxes you can claim an extra personal exemption. That’s a large chunk of change you can deduct from your income, thus reducing your tax burden.
But who exactly can you claim? Are you eligible to claim your parents as dependents?
When it comes to taxes there are actually two different types of dependents: qualifying children and qualifying relatives.
Obviously, you can’t claim your parents as qualifying children. So the question becomes, do they meet the requirements for qualifying relatives?
Is your parent a qualifying relative for tax purposes?
In order to claim someone as a qualifying relative they must:
- Have lived with you all year as a member of your household, or be one of the following family members: child, parent, sibling, stepparent, stepchild, step-sibling, half sibling, grandparent, grandchild, child-in-law, parent-in-law, sibling-in-law, uncle, aunt, niece, or nephew
- Be a U.S. citizen or resident, or a resident of Canada or Mexico
- Be unmarried, or married but not filing a joint return
- Not be a qualifying child of you or someone else
- Have a gross income of less than $4,000
- Have more than half of their total support for the year provided by you
In plain English, this means that yes you can claim a parent as a dependent but they have to meet the above requirements.
Are Social Security Benefits included?
As a general rule, Social Security benefits are not included in gross income. For more information about Social Security and Disability benefits, check out our other article, “Claiming Parents as Dependents If They Receive Social Security Benefits“. Be sure to make sure they are tax-exempt, because this could determine your eligibility to claim them as a dependent.
When determining if you provided over 50% of a parent’s total support, be sure to consider
- lodging
- food expenses
- utilities
- repairs
- household expenses
- clothing
- education
- medical and dental expenses
- travel
- recreation expenses
If you support a parent who meets all of the requirements listed above be sure to claim them when you file online this season!
Hi, I am 65, disabled and live on SSI . I receive HUD assistance to pay rent. I am losing my eyesight and it would benefit me to live with my daughter. She owns a house through Employee Housing and I need to be her dependent to live with her. I receive Foodstamps. If I become her dependant, how will that effect my benefits?
Hi Joanna,
You may want to refer to the USDA Food and Nutrition Service website or contact them directly for information on eligibility requirements.
Aloha!
I support my father (he is 53) who was enrolled and attended our local community college the entire year of 2013 as a full time student. I paid all his bills as he was unemployed, but he did receive unemployment to the total of $6,850. He used all his unemployment to pay for his classes, books, and such that he needed for school. Can I still claim him or is he unqualified because of the unemployment? Or does the fact that he was a full time student change that? Thank you for your time and insight!
Mahalo!
I claimed my parents as our dependents but father wants to claim his refund. He only made $1900 for 2013. What filing status should he use?
Hi Lanie,
If he is married and not filing with his spouse, he will file as “married filing separately”. If he is not married, he will file as “Single”.
My 88 year old grandmother lives with me. She is permanently disabled. She receives a pension of $3,942 a year and $10,812 a year SSI. All of her money goes to her medicines, and medical/ life insurances. I pay for groceries, lodging, etc.. Does she qualify as a relative dependent and can I claim her on my tax return?
Hi Antoinette,
In order to claim a qualifying relative as a dependent the following must be met;
1. The dependent must live with you.
2. The dependent must make less than $3900 a year.
3. You provide more than half of the relative’s financial support for the year.
4. You are the only person claiming them.
It sounds like your grandmother might make too much to claim her.
My mom only got $16,068.90 from social security for 2013 will I be able to claim her on my taxes?