She doesn't work and I had to wait until I was 23 to file as an independant student because she never filed her taxes. I was raise in foster care but, Feds said it didn't matter by the time I was able to go to college all my peers where graduating. That was 11 years ago and I still feel like I am catching up. I know it's kinda cheating but, me and what other little family have depleated all recources to help her. Plus, you have to want help first. She gets mail here and stuff but, we can'tallow her to stay because of stealing. We usually put her in hotelswhen she runs out of SSI and hustling money. Sad I know....
2007-02-03 07:50:39 · 8 answers · asked by thadrizzle2 3 in Business & Finance ➔ Taxes ➔ United States
Unless you actually have expenditures for her care which total 50% or more, you cannot claim her.
A suggestion from me to you as a recovering addict with 17 years clean and sober is to not help her when she is on the streets. That will be the hardest thing you can do but she has to help herself and if you keep bailing her out when she is down and out she will most likely never get there. Make her take responsibility for herself. She may choose to live and may choose to die but it is her choice. Contact Al-anon (listed in phone book and if not call AA) to find places to go to help you deal with her addictions and learn how to allow her to make her own choices. The call and groups are free.
Best of luck
2007-02-03 08:01:41 · answer #1 · answered by christopherscott3 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
You must meet all of the following requirements to be able to claim her
The person either (a) must be related to you in one of the ways listed under Relatives who do not have to live with you, or
(b) must live with you all year as a member of your household (and your relationship must not violate local law).
2 The person's gross income for the year must be less than $3,300. 3
You must provide more than half of the person's total support for the year. 4
Call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040
2007-02-03 16:11:23 · answer #2 · answered by Rob 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have my sympathy - sounds like you had a miserable start to life, but have managed to overcome it.
If her gross income for the year was under $3300, and you provided more than half of her support for the year, you could claim her as a dependent. That might be pretty hard to establish though, under the circumstances.
Good luck.
2007-02-03 23:47:43 · answer #3 · answered by Judy 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you're not providing more than half of her support you can't claim her as a dependent and get the exemption. However you may have a case for claiming that you provided more than half of her support especially with those hotel bills.
A parent does NOT need to live with you to be claimed as a dependent. Nor does it appear that she needs to have any regular place of abode to qualify as your dependent either.
2007-02-03 16:06:52 · answer #4 · answered by Bostonian In MO 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The tricky part will be showing that you provide more than 50% of her support - but YES, you can claim your mother as a dependent.
She needs to earn less than $3300. (SSI doesn't count towards that) And because she is your mother - she does NOT have to live with you:
"Relatives who do not have to live with you. A person related to you in any of the following ways does not have to live with you all year as a member of your household to meet this test.
*Your child, stepchild, eligible foster child, or a descendant of any of them (for example, your grandchild). (A legally adopted child is considered your child.)
* Your brother, sister, half brother, half sister, stepbrother, or stepsister.
* Your father, mother, grandparent, or other direct ancestor, but not foster parent.
*Your stepfather or stepmother.
* A son or daughter of your brother or sister.
* A brother or sister of your father or mother.
*Your son-in-law, daughter-in-law, father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law.
You can claim her - if you can somehow show that you do support her.
2007-02-03 16:07:55 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, you can't. A person has to actually live with you for you to claim them as a dependent. And the IRS has a way of finding out the truth, and you could get in ALOT of trouble if you file a false claim. They will want to know WHY she is dependent on you, and proof of it. I'd forget it if I were you. The IRS does'nt joke.
2007-02-03 15:59:13 · answer #6 · answered by Vinegar Taster 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Not unless you are providing her a place to live, and over 50% of her support. She is not your dependent.
2007-02-03 15:59:59 · answer #7 · answered by professorc 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Has to be someone you're caring for and is dependent on you (ie: part of your household).
2007-02-03 15:55:14 · answer #8 · answered by John Rosa 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋