You may be able to claim your children as a Qualifying Child dependents if:
- The child must be related to you. The child can be your son, daughter, stepchild, eligible foster child, brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, stepbrother, stepsister, adopted child or an offspring of any of them.
- Your child must be under age 19 or, if a full-time student, under age 24. There is no age limit if your child is permanently and totally disabled.
- Your child must live with you for more than half the year, but several exceptions apply (ie. away at school).
- The child cannot provide more than half of his/her support.
- You must be the only person claiming the child
- The child must be a US citizen, resident alien, national, or resident of Mexico or Canada.
- The child cannot file a joint return with his or her spouse.
You cannot claim a spouse as a dependent.
You should file as Married Filing Joint even if one spouse has little or no income.
Married Filing Joint is the most favored tax filing status with highest standard deduction of $12,600
In addition, you each receive a personal exemption of $4,050.-same as a dependent.
