In Tennessee, can I claim the following on my income taxes?

Question

I live in TN. My sister and mother live with me. My sister worked part time for a littler while, only for a few months, last year. Does she have to file income tax or can I claim her? (I believe there's a minimum amount someone can make under & not have to file, I just dont know that amount is). I pay the majority of the bills. Also, my mother is on Social Security (due to her age), but I take care of her. Could I claim my mother or can you not claim someone if they draw Social Security? I've had a couple of people tell me that I should've been claiming them both for years now, but others who says I cannot claim them (legally). I only want to do it, if it will be legal.

Answer 1

You might be able to.

For your mom, it will come down to whether or not you pay half of her total support. You said she gets social security. If she uses that for her support, unless you contribute more to her support, you would not be able to claim her. There's a worksheet in IRS Publication 17 on page 32 that helps determine how much support each person provided. Even if her social security isn't taxable, you still have to count it toward her support determination if that's how she uses it.

For your sister, if she made under $3300 gross income, you might be able to claim her - if she made over that, you can't. Again, as with your mom, you would have to provide more than half of her total support. That's if she's over 18 and not a full time student, or is a full-time student and is over 23. It wouldn't matter if she filed her own return or not.

Good luck.