How can I claim my dog as a dependent on my tax forms?

Question

Is there any way to do it?

Answer 1

Sure, get a social security # for your dog, and claim it as a dependent. Now if you want the legal answer, NO, pets are not claimable as a dependent. You only asked "How" you could claim the dog, not whether it is legal or not. But just so you and I don't get in trouble (you for tax fraud, and me for advising you how to commit tax fraud) I'm giving you the legal answer. Back several years ago, the irs required a social security number for each dependent that people were claiming on their tax return in order to claim the dependent. It was amazing as to how many children just up and vanished from the year before when people didn't need that social security number.

Answer 2

IRS Taxpayer Assistance Division
1-800-829-1040

Answer 3

First, you have no rights. You are not the custodial parent and the IRS doesn't entirely care that you pay support. If the father agrees to let you claim the child's exemption and child tax credit, he would supply you with a signed 8332. That does NOT get you HOH or EIC (he keeps those). If he refuses to sign the 8332 for any reason, you can't claim the child. Unless he has a close relative living with him or has NO filing requirement of his own, no one else can claim the child. While he doesn't need your permission, that person STILL has to qualify. For a non-relative, they'd have to live with him all year and provide more than 1/2 of the child's total support. This is where your child support comes in because if you and dad provide more than half (a prerequisite to the 8332), then no one else mathematically qualifies.

Answer 4

If you want to get audited go for it if not then don't. You cannot claim your dog as a dependant. Many people tried that years about but trust me - the IRS will audit you because you do not have a social security number for your pet and if you put the incorrect social on the return you will definitely be called in for an audit.

Answer 5

My aunt's friend TOTALLY did this a long time ago for like 5 years. When the guilt caught up with her and she stopped, someone from the IRS (or whoever looks at tax returns) called and asked if her child died.

I think it was back in the 80s, but the story made me laugh.

Answer 6

yes there is two ways one get him a ss number of course he will have to die when he is 18
(note a little humor here but true - i used to work for a guy who worked for the irs and he said when the irs started requiring ss numbers for depends xxx number of children just disappeared that year)

second-go into the dog breeding business and charge stud fees or if a ***** use her and sale pups -- cost of kennel, food, etc are write offs.

Answer 7

Strange but maybe, is it a seeing eye dog, or help you as a hanicap in a wheel chair? but just a pet no...

Answer 8

Only if you want to be audited & pay back taxes, interest & penalties.

Answer 9

Well, first of all he or she would need a social security number - that would be the first stumbling block. Then you'd be trying to prove his/her relationship to you...... ;-{

Uh, no.

Answer 10

NOT...although you could set him up as a business, you know dog shows, entertaining, rent him to the fire co., etc. Then he could be a business entity and you could deduct his expenses, at least.