I've been supporting my 18yr old brother for 2 yrs. What are my options for maximizng my income tax return?

Question

He just starting working part-time. I pay all bills and expenses. How do I claim him on my taxes? I make over 70k

Answer 1

You can claim him as a depending if he is either your qualified child (QC) or a qualified relative (QR).

Other requirements for QC besides being your blood related brother is that he has to lived with your for at east 6 months, under 19 if not full time student or completely disabled, and he can't pay more than 50% of his own support.

Requirements for QR is relationship or someone who lived with you for the whole year, he can't make more than $3200 (earned wages, interest etc), you have to pay more than 50% of his support, and he can't be a QC for someone else.

From what you have said, it sounds that you can claim him as your dependent this year because he is your Qualified Child. If he turns 19 before Dec 31, 2007 and not going to school full time, he will be too old for QC next year. You can claim him only if he makes less than $3200 in 2007.

Best wishes.

Answer 2

Assuming he lived with you for more than half the year, you can probably claim him. And if you were eligible to claim him for earlier year(s) but didn't, you can file an amended return for those years.

Answer 3

Get him to agree to allow you to file his income under your tax return. This way you pay his taxes and you can claim him as a dependent. In my opinion, it may not be worth it. If he files on his own he will pay a lower tax rate or percent because he is in a low income. If he makes less than a certain amount, he may not have to pay any taxes, (my guess is that it's around $3,500.)

Answer 4

Were you his legal guardian? Can you prove that you have provided more than half of his support?
Talk to a Tax person, but I have my doubts if you can claim him.