I'm curious to see if it is possible if I can claim my boyfriend for this year income tax. He's living with me and I pay for everything. He hasn't work for the past 2 years and I've been supporting him throughtout those years. I will be claiming house of household this year, so if he lives under my roof without a job or any kind of income coming in for him, can I still claim him?
2007-01-03 05:48:13 · 15 answers · asked by daisy 2 in Business & Finance ➔ Taxes ➔ United States
Yes, you can claim him as a dependent since he didn't have any income. However you cannot claim head of household. You'll have to file single.
Edit: Crazy how many people have no idea what they are talking about!
2007-01-03 05:50:39 · answer #1 · answered by Fool in the Rain 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
You very likely can if he's lived with you all of 2006, as long as your relationship doesn't violate local law, and he meets all the rules for being claimed as a dependent as a "qualifying relative" - and no, "relative" here doesn't have to be a legal or biological relationship, this is an IRS term here. From the information you give, he probably does meet the requirements for you to claim him as a dependent, but check the rules to be sure.
Even if you can claim him as a dependent, that wouldn't qualify you to claim head of household status.
And a note to "Fool in the Rain" - unfortunately, it's very common for people to ask even fairly basic questions here and get wrong answers. Seems to be particularly bad in the tax area, where everybody thinks they know the answer, but few do. This same question, or one close to it, gets asked many times a week, and almost always gets a variety of answers, some incomplete, many totally wrong, and a few right. Other tax questions also get a lot of wrong answers - either obsolete tax law, or just what somebody thinks it should be, not what it is.
2007-01-03 06:35:29 · answer #2 · answered by Judy 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Judy,
The term you are looking for is "member of household". The IRS uses this to distinguish individuals that you can claim as dependents, but would "normally" fail the relationship test (relative either through birth or marriage). As long as the person is a member of your household (lives with you) for the full calendar year, AND you are providing at least 50% of their support, then you can claim them as dependents.
2007-01-03 07:09:10 · answer #3 · answered by jseah114 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can claim him as long as he lived with you the entire year and your relationship doen't "violate local law". In a few states, it is illegal for a man and woman to live together without being married.
However, even if you can claim the exemption, you do not qualify for Head of Household. Per the IRS rules, "a girlfriend can not qualify a boyfriend for head of household and vice versa".
2007-01-03 06:08:02 · answer #4 · answered by Wayne Z 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As long as you have provided support for him for more than 6 months out of the year you are eligible to claim him as a dependent.A few years ago I had the same situation where my daughters boyfriend was living with us.I talked to the IRS and they told me I could claim him.
2007-01-03 06:02:11 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The person must be a relative. If they are in a "common law marriage" then he may be a dependent relative. Go to the IRS web site for details.
Exemptions for Dependents
You are allowed one exemption for each person you can claim as a dependent. You can claim an exemption for a dependent even if your dependent files a return.
The term “dependent” means:
* A qualifying child, or
* A qualifying relative.
The terms “qualifying child” and “qualifying relative” are defined later.
You can claim an exemption for a qualifying child or qualifying relative only if these three tests are met.
1. Dependent taxpayer test.
2. Joint return test.
3. Citizen or resident test.
2007-01-03 06:00:37 · answer #6 · answered by Barkley Hound 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I think that you can. You are supporting him and he is living in your house.
But we all know our government so check with a tax attorney or call H&R block and ask them. I would not risk getting in trouble with the government for any amount of money. So check and double check.
Good luck
2007-01-03 06:04:55 · answer #7 · answered by ohdarnitsmeagain 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes, if he added you on her Income Tax Return as one of his dependents.
2016-05-22 23:05:49 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you can file Unmarried Head of Household in this case. Get your instruction booklet for the 1040 form and check on the qualifications for that filing status. I'm not positive if the person actually has to be a relative or not.
I have to ask, why are you supporting him? Is he disabled?
2007-01-03 05:59:13 · answer #9 · answered by Firespider 7 · 0⤊ 4⤋
You cannot claim boyfriends or dogs as dependents.
Claim him? You need to throw him out and get a dog.
Dogs are less taxing....than boyfriends.
2007-01-03 05:58:40 · answer #10 · answered by professionalmuse4u 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋