what all can i claim?

Question

i have a daughter, my girlfriend didnt work last year, we dont live together a the moment, but buy most of what we need for our daughter. i have a job, 401k,. can i claim her also or not since we arent married even if she dont file and no one else claims her.? Head of household? earned income? how bout all the stuff we bought for our daughter and i kept all the reciepts can i get some of those taxes back. pretty much any thing where i can get a lil more. this i smy first child so this year is kinda new for me on what i can claim. thanks

Answer 1

The girlfriend is probably the easier answer. If you didn't live together ALL of last year, you can't claim her. Otherwise, from the info in your question, you probably can. Claiming her would NOT qualify you for head of household filing status, though.

Now - the daughter. If she lived with you for more than half of the year, you can very possibly claim her, especially since if her mother didn't work all last year, she won't likely be filing a return so there shouldn't be any argument over which of you will claim your daughter. And if the daughter lived with you for more than half the year, that would also qualify you for EIC (assuming your income meets the requirements) and head of household filing status.

If you're talking about getting a deduction for sales tax on the items you bought, yes, but only if you itemize, and only if the sales tax is more total than the state and local income taxes you pay. So I'd guess that the answer for you is really "no".

Good for you for doing the right thing by living up to your responsibilities to your daughter.

Answer 2

if the child lived with you and you supported her for the year then you can claim her. As for your girlfriend, she had to live with you for the entire year and you had to have supported her then she would qualify as a qualifying relative on your return. You should qualify for the Head of Household filing status if your daughter lived with you and you supported her. If you are paying someone daycare then you can deduct up to $3000 of Child care expenses as a credit against any income (not refundable but look at your state sometimes the state day care credits are refundable). If your income is in the right range, your daughter may also qualify you for the earned income credit, Child tax credit (up to $1000 non refundable credit) and maybe even an additional Child Tax Credit (only if you did not use up the Child Tax credit then it may become refundable).

Your 401K is also a great tool for your taxes. You postpone some of your income to a future year and if you are in the right income range you may also qualify for a Savers Credit which could be anywhere up to 50% of what you contributed as a non refundable credit.

Answer 3

If no one else claims her as a deduction then you are able to claim her. Earned income tax credit eligibility would depend on the amount of money you earned this year. You will not be able to deduct things that you bought for your daughter to provide her needs. You can only claim things such as child care expenses, medical expenses, etc. Since this is your first year find yourself a good accountant who could look at your situation and run numbers to see the best way of how you could financially benefit in filing taxes, ie. head of household, single filing jointly, etc. The accountant can also give you tips of how to go about obtaining things throughout the year so as to be able to deduct them from your taxes.

Answer 4

If your daughter is your daughter by blood or adoption, then you can claim her if the mother does not and you provide over 50% of her support and she lives with you more than 6 months out of the calendar year and she is under age 19 as of 12/31/2006. You may be able to claim the child tax credit and claim expenses for her care. If your daughter lived with you and you provide your home for her with you, then you may file head of household as long as you are not married (or didn't live with wife for last 6 months of year).

The girlfriend you cannot claim unless she lives with you the entire year and you provide over half of her support. She cannot have income over $3,300 for 2006. Girlfriend must not be a qualifying relative or child of anybody else.

Answer 5

Did your child live you? If she lived with you, under 17, and you were responsible for her support, then you can came the dependent deduction, plus the child tax credit.

Health care expenses are covered under medical deductions, and it is hard to claim those.

Clothes, diapers and the other stuff is considered part of the dependent deduction.

There are also deductions for child care.

Answer 6

msg me at notfromaround_here in yahoo and i will help u with it

susan