You would have encountered the Question, "We know Bobby is a kid, but we have to ask: Did he pay for most of his living expenses?
Let us know if Bobby is one of the few kids who pay for more than half of their living expenses. (These kids aren't considered dependents.)
That question would rule him out as a dependent all together.
A Qualifying Relative is described below. Any answer that conforms to these rules would have gotten you the $500 each.
Qualifying Relative
You can claim a child, relative, friend, fiancé (etc.) as a dependent on your 2020 taxes as long as they meet all of the following requirements :
- You provided more than half of their financial support. More info
- They made less than $4,300 in gross income during 2020 unless they are a qualifying child.
- They live with you or they are related to you. (Your relative must live at your residence all year or be on the list of “relatives who do not live with you” in Publication 501.)
- They are a U.S. citizen, resident alien, national, or a Canadian or Mexican resident.
- They aren't (or won't be) claimed as a dependent by someone else.
- They aren’t filing a joint return with their spouse.
- You are not being claimed as a dependent on someone else's return.
