My roommate, a friend of 10+ years, and her child, my goddaughter (legally, on paper, and as noted in official police records), qualify as dependents on my tax return based on the IRS guidelines for who/what is a dependent. I'm covering 100% of their financial expenses, and they've lived with me for more than half the year.
After a heated argument, my roommate threatened to report me to the IRS if I tried to claim her and my goddaughter as dependents on my 2024 tax return. She said I "can't claim them without her permission" and that it's a crime. The thing is, she's already provided me with both of their SSNs, meaning I have all the information I need to claim both of them.
Is this true? If I claim them, is it considered a crime simply because she suddenly decided that she wouldn't let me do it? What would happen if my roommate attempted to report me to the IRS for claiming her and her daughter as dependents on my future tax return?
