who are my dependents?

Question

I assume this refers to children only, or does it include everyone in a household?

Answer 1

I've attached a link about qualifying children and qualifying dependents (too many words to just copy and paste here).

I have included excerpts from the links. If you want to see more, just click on the links I have provided.

Qualifying Children
To be claimed as a qualifying child, the person must meet four criteria:
Relationship — the person must be your child, step child, adopted child, foster child, brother or sister, or a descendant of one of these (for example, a grandchild or nephew).

Residence — for more than half the year, the person must have the same residence as you do. (More than half a year means, at minimum, six months and one day.)

Age — the person must be

under age 19 at the end of the year, or
under age 24 and a be a full-time student for at least five months out of the year, or
any age and totally and permanently disabled.
Support — the person did not provide more than half of his or her own support during the year.

Claiming a Dependent
Taxpayers may claim a dependent for a person who meets the criteria for a qualifying relative. A dependent is a person who meets either the qualifying child or the qualifying relative definitions.

Five Criteria for Qualifying Relatives
To be claimed as a qualifying relative, the person must meet five criteria:
Gross Income – The dependent earns less than $3,300 in income during the year,
Total Support – You provide more than half of the dependent's total support during the year,
Relationship – You are related to the dependent in certain ways,
Joint Return – If the dependent is married, the dependent cannot file a joint return with his or her spouse.
Citizenship – The dependent must be a citizen or resident alien of the United States, Canada, or Mexico

Answer 2

There are specific rules for who can be claimed as a dependent. Your biological children who live with you who are under 19, or under 24 and full-time students, and are not providing over half of their own support, are your dependents. It is possible for other people to be dependents, but they have to meet specific rules - for example, the kids of a live-in bf or gf are NOT your dependents if they aren't your biological children, even if you support them totally.

But dependents can under some circumstances be other people who live in your household, even if they aren't related to you - and if you are supporting a close relative, you might be able to claim them even if they don't live with you. If you post specifics here about a person you are wondering about, you'll get answers, including some correct ones, but many people give wrong answers on this topic.

Download publication 17 from irs.gov and read chapter 3, including looking at Table 3-1 for more info

Answer 3

I am a tax preparer and office manager for a tax company so your dependents include everyone in your household that you have supported over 50%. There are other tax credits that apply only to children however, dependents are any aged people that you have provided OVER 50% of thier care.

Answer 4

It could mean other people, including your grandchild, father, mother, grandparent, brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, stepfather, stepmother, neice, nephew, aunt, uncle, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, father-in-law, mother-in-law, stepchild, foster child.

Even if they're not one of those relationships, they may still be your dependent if they lived with you all year as a member of your household and your relationship doesn't violate local law.

Regardless, their annual income generally must be less than $3,300 per year.

And you generally need to provide more than half of the person's total support for the year.

And the person cannot be the qualifying child of anyone else.

And the person must be a citizen, resident alien, or national of the United States, or a resident of Canada or Mexico for some part of the year.

Answer 5

Children and seniors you are paying for.
no dogs or cats
HA

Answer 6

children that you support.