☰
✕
Sign In

Why sign in to the Community?

  • Submit a question
  • Check your notifications
Sign in to the Community or Sign in to TurboTax and start working on your taxes
Level 1
posted Sep 17, 2025 2:08:34 PM

Do I need to file taxes?

I’m married filing separate, however, I have been getting financial support from my parents since I am not legally separated. Can they amend their taxes to claim me?

 

I didn’t earn any income from a job or my business, because I am the sole caretaker for my small child. Do I need to file my taxes with no income to report? I didn’t file for an extension, is it still possible? How can I get a Schedule C if I didn’t file because there was no income to report?

0 1 244
1 Replies
Level 15
Sep 17, 2025 2:48:40 PM

If you had no taxable income you have no reason to file a tax return, nor would it help you to do so.   You do not have to file unless you have a  1095A for having marketplace health insurance.    If you did not work and earn any income, either W-2 income or self-employment income, then you are not eligible to receive refundable child-related credits like child tax credit or earned income credit.   If you had no self-employment income, you have no reason to file a Schedule C -- what would you enter on it?    What business expenses can you claim?

 

If you were supported by your parents then they might be able to claim you ---and perhaps your child-- as dependents on their tax return.    They could get the $500 credit for other dependents by claiming you as a qualified relative, and perhaps claim their grandchild as a qualifying child.

 

 

 

IRS interview to help determine who can be claimed:

https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/who-can-i-claim-as-a-dependen

 

 

 

WHO CAN I CLAIM AS A DEPENDENT?

 

You can claim a child, relative, friend, or fiancé (etc.) as a dependent on your 2024 taxes as long as they meet the following requirements:

Qualifying child

  • They're related to you.
  • They aren't claimed as a dependent by someone else.
  • They're a U.S. citizen, resident alien, national, or a Canadian or Mexican resident.
  • They aren’t filing a joint return with their spouse.
  • They're under the age of 19 (or 24 for full-time students).
    • No age limit for permanently and totally disabled children.
  • They lived with you for more than half the year (exceptions apply).
  • They didn't provide more than half of their own support for the year.

Qualifying relative

  • They don't have to be related to you (despite the name).
  • They aren't claimed as a dependent by someone else.
  • They're a U.S. citizen, resident alien, national, or a Canadian or Mexican resident.
  • They aren’t filing a joint return with their spouse.
  • They lived with you the entire year (exceptions apply).
  • They made less than $5050 in 2024 (not counting Social Security)
  • You provided more than half of their financial support.