can you declare a girlfriend as a dependent on your tax return?

Question

Can I? if I have a daughter with her so I can claim myself + 2 dependents?

Answer 1

As is typically the case with this question -- I answer it dozens of times a month -- you'll get a lot of bad answers to this one. Here's the REAL scoop:

You can claim your girlfriend if ALL of the following are true:

1. She cannot be claimed as a qualifying child by another taxpayer.

2. She does not file a joint return with someone else

3. She had less than $3,400 in gross income for 2007. Exclude any non-taxable Social Security from the gross income test.

4. She lived with you all year.

5. You provided more than 50% of her total support for the year.

6. Your relationship is not illegal under local law. If there is a local ordinance or state law against cohabitation, even if unenforced, you cannot claim her.

Whether you can claim your girlfriend or not, you can claim your daughter. Actually, either of you can. You can also file as Head of Household and, if your income is within limits, collect the Earned Income Credit as well. If your girlfriend earns too much money to be claimed as a dependent, you should figure out which one of you should claim her for maximum benefit as only one of you may claim your daughter.

Answer 2

It's kind of amazing how many people feel obliged to answer this question the many times it gets asked, but don't have a clue as to the correct answer.

Bostonianinmo's answer is the only correct one so far.

He mentions head of household - you can file that way if you provide over half of the expenses in maintaining the household because your child is a qualifying person. If it was just you and your girlfriend, no child, then even if you could claim her for a dependent, you couldn't file as head of household.

Answer 3

Nothing incorrect in the previous two answers regarding claiming the girlfriend. In order to claim your child, you need to have lived with the child for more than half of the year (or since birth if the child is less than six months old).

If you did not live with the child, then the mother (who I assume lives with the child) will claim the child. The mother may waive the exemption to you if she chooses.

If you have lived with your child for more than half the year, and you pay more than half the costs of maintaining your home, then you may file as Head of Household. Otherwise, Single.

Answer 4

actually u can if she goes by your last name and lives with u 6 months outa the yr and u support her and can prove she dont have to legslly change her name to yours but like if u all have bills togethr say a light bill ect then maybe best way to know for sure ask h and r block online they will tell u .

Answer 5

If and only if you are generally known as man and wife, the fact that you have not formally married can be overlooked.

Answer 6

If you live together