2006-09-22 01:22:23 · 10 answers · asked by bubbles5733 1 in Business & Finance ➔ Taxes ➔ United States
The real answer:
She is your Qualifying Child (new term introduced in 2005) if she is under 19 at the end of the year (or under 25 and a full-time student, or permanently disabled) AND she does not pay over half of her own support AND she lives with you for at least 6 months AND she is a US citizen or resident or resident of Mexico or Canada AND you can not be anyone else's dependent. If those conditions are all met, she is your qualifying child and you can claim her as a dependent.
However, she could also be someone else's qualifying child. If she lived with someone else for at least 6 months that is her sister, brother, parent, or any lineal ancestor of any of those, they, too, could claim her as a dependent. As long as only one person claims her as a dependent, you are all legal and OK. However, if more than one person claims her, then certain tiebreaker rules are applied which are beyond the scope of this answer.
As stated by other people, do NOT rely on anyone's answer (mine included) on this board, but do your own due diligence. I suggest Publication 17 from the IRS. Best bet is to see a tax professional. Of course I would say that because I am one and I know that people forgo thousands of dollars each year because they don't know enough about tax law. Just look at some of the other answers you've seen here and you'll get an idea of what people know and don't know. Hope this helps! :)
2006-09-22 10:37:02 · answer #1 · answered by TaxMan 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If your niece is under 19 (24 if a full time student) or disabled and she does not provide more than half of her own support you may claim her as a dependent. She may qualify you for other benefits or credits in much the same manner that your own children would. If you have income greater than $10,000 you should have a tax professional take a look at your situation. Most will help you determine the effect on your tax return of your niece living with you without charge. It is difficult to do that in this format because of the number of questions that must be addressed.
2006-09-22 10:20:49 · answer #2 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Follow mislabeled's advice. Based on the very limited information in your question, it is hard to give you a definite answer. Listening to the advice of others, especially ones that probably have no Tax training whatsoever, is risky and could get you into a situation that you find undesirable. Try to find a Vita center around your area. They offer their services for free, and they have ample training to answer any question you might have.
2006-09-22 11:10:06 · answer #3 · answered by johngrobmyer 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You have only gotten partially correct answers that can get you into trouble if you act on them. Depending on more information than you have provided, your niece must live with you the entire year and you must provide more than half of her support for that time.
It's best not to ask strangers on the net for information on such sensitive issues. And if you must, ignore everything that does not contain a link to back it up.
2006-09-22 11:02:42 · answer #4 · answered by misslabeled 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You will also need to know whether on not her parents are claiming her as a dependent.
2006-09-22 08:31:32 · answer #5 · answered by SCHSFAN 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yep
6 months is good enough for the IRS so go ahead and claim her but only if she is under 17 will she get you child tax credit
2006-09-22 08:26:57 · answer #6 · answered by glass_city_hustla 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Yes you can, but only if no one else claims her, like a parent or other guardian...
2006-09-22 08:30:37 · answer #7 · answered by cajunpalomino 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can claim your niece if she is a minor and you provide over half of her support.
2006-09-22 08:27:13 · answer #8 · answered by Johnny W 1 · 0⤊ 3⤋
I believe you have to file as head of household to claim anyone not related to you.
2006-09-22 08:30:34 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
I want to say no b/c as the way it sounds it was not done legally. But I'm honestly guessing...
2006-09-22 08:30:13 · answer #10 · answered by Capricorn82 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋