child tax credit?

Question

Ok, I know absolutely know nothing about taxes whatsoever but could I file taxes even though I don't work and don't have any real income coming in? Me and my bf aren't married so from what I hear he can't claim them because they aren't his biological kids. Who can claim them? Their real father can't because he's not in the country anymore. I live in Indiana, if that makes any difference.

thanks for your help in advance.

Answer 1

The rules for the Dependent on your tax return are different from for the Qualified child for the purpose of Child Tax Credit.

1. For the purpose of Child Tax Credit, a qualifying child is a child who:
* Is your son, daughter, stepchild, foster child, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, or a descendant of any of them (for example, your grandchild),
* Was under age 17 at the end of 2006,
* Did not provide over half of his or her own support for 2007,
Lived with you for more than half of 2007, and
* Was a U.S. citizen, a U.S. national, or a resident of the United States. (Legally adopted child is treated as your own child.)
So your BF cannot claim the Child Tax credit.

2. For claiming Dependent's exemptions for the kids if, the requirement which your BF does not meet is:
* Cannot be your qualifying child or the qualifying child of anyone else.
So your BF cannot claim them as dependents.

Answer 2

Sorry, but your B/F cannot claim the children. The law was changed for tax year 2005 and later. Your child is your qualifying child for tax purposes and as such cannot be your B/F's qualifying relative. It doesn't matter than you do not have to file a return and cannot claim them yourself.

You and the children's father and your parents are pretty much the only ones who can claim the children. Depending upon the situation your B/F may be able to claim you but he won't be able to claim the children unless you 2 get married.

Answer 3

You live with your boyfriend and have two children who are not his children. Under the current rules, the boyfriend cannot claim your children even if he supports them. This is because you live with your children and they are your "qualifying children." If you have any earned income, no matter how small, you should file a tax return to get the Earned Income Credit for your children.

Your boyfriend may be able to claim you. If you live with your boyfriend for 12 months in 2007, you have income of less than $3,400 (such as wages), and your boyfriend provided over half of your support, then your boyfriend may be able to claim you as a dependent. If your boyfriend claims you, you cannot get the Earned Income Credit for your children, so keep that in mind.

Answer 4

You're right that your boyfriend can't claim your kids. You could, but if you don't have income, there isn't anything to file on and you'd get no benefit from claiming them - they can just reduce your taxes to zero, and if you don't have income, your taxes are already zero. And you aren't eligible for the earned income credit unless you have earned income.

Under the circumstances you describe, nobody can claim your kids.

Answer 5

Wow, I can't really answer that off the top of my head. Call H & R Block. They have someone at their office all year long and should be able to help you. They are in your local yellow pages. I couldn't find a web site cause I don't know exactly what town in Indiana to look for. Sorry hon. But you are righton one thing...your BF cannot claim them on his taxes.