head of household

[lettersnumbersdashesaunderscores]

  I live with my ex-wife and pay all her bills, including health insurance, room and boarding expenses, food and clothing, etc. I don't understand why Turbo Tax does not allow me to claim her as a dependent? 

[Vanessa A]

Does she earn more than $4,700?  If so, she cannot be claimed as a dependent.

To claim someone as a Qualifying Relative, they must be:

• Your child ( including step children, adoptive children and foster children) or a descendent of them
• Your sibling (including half siblings) or a child of your sibling or a sibling-in-law
• Your parent or grandparents, including step parents and in laws
• Any other person that lived with you for the entire tax year
• Not a qualifying child of another taxpayer
• Someone that you provided over half of their support for during the tax year
• Has less than $4,700 in income (not counting social security)

[lettersnumbersdashesaunderscores]

  She has zero income. I pay literally everything. 

[CatinaT1]

Do you have children? You should be able to claim her as a dependent, but she is not a qualifying person for you to claim Head of Household.

You can qualify for Head of Household if you:  

• Were unmarried as of December 31 this year and  
• Paid more than half the cost to run your home for the year(rent, mortgage, utilities, etc.) and  
• You supported a qualifying person.  

After you answer all the questions about yourself and your dependents at the beginning of your return, we'll let you know if your situation qualifies for Head of Household.  

[lettersnumbersdashesaunderscores]

Thanks. I'm not married (divorced). She is not married. I pay every single expense all year for everything. She has no income. She is completely dependent upon my financial support including food, shelter, medical insurance, housing.  I still can't seem to claim her as a dependent. Why so? 

[CatinaT1]

You should be able to claim her as a dependent, but not for Head of Household. The rules for what is called a Qualifing Relative VanessaA posted above. She meets the three I bolded and underlined below. Review your entries in the personal information section to see what is answered wrong that is kicking her out as a dependent.

To claim someone as a Qualifying Relative, they must be:

• Your child ( including step children, adoptive children and foster children) or a descendent of them
• Your sibling (including half siblings) or a child of your sibling or a sibling-in-law
• Your parent or grandparents, including step parents and in laws
• Any other person that lived with you for the entire tax year
• Not a qualifying child of another taxpayer
• Someone that you provided over half of their support for during the tax year
• Has less than $4,700 in income (not counting social security)

[lettersnumbersdashesaunderscores]

Thanks. Neither of us has children. She meets all the following criteria: 

Any other person that lived with you for the entire tax year

Not a qualifying child of another taxpayer

Someone that you provided over half of their support for during the tax year

Has less than $4,700 in income (not counting social security)

Why am I unable to claim her as a dependent?

[CatinaT1]

I am agreeing with you, but I can not see your screen. This is why I suggest you review your entries in the personal information section to see what is answered wrong that is kicking her out as a dependent.