Q So the best way to proceed would be the following?
A. Yes, depending on the numbers. But, upon closer examination, probably not.
Taxes are complicated. There's a catch, I didn't consider earlier.
Social security becomes taxable when a person's income, including 1/2 their social security, reaches:
-Married Filing Jointly (MFJ): $32,000
-Single or head of household: $25,000
-Married Filing Separately (MFS) and lived with your spouse at any time during the tax year: $0
Since Dad will be using the MFS filing status, he has to report his SS income. Depending on how much SS income he has, his tax may be more than the $500 (other dependent credit) you get for claiming Mom.
