I am 19 and filing myself this year my parents are not claiming me for 2019. I had a baby and I am the sole financial provider. Why can’t I claim my baby?as my dependent?

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
April 13, 2020
3 replies
50 views

I checked that my parents could claim me but they are not I want to file head of household how do I go back and change that it said I can’t claim my daughter because I checked my parents could c

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rjs

Level 15

It doesn't matter whether your parents claim you or not. What matters is whether they could claim you as a dependent. If they could claim you, then you cannot claim any dependents on your own tax return, even if your parents don't actually claim you.

Carl

Level 11

The key word in the rule is *QUALIFY*.

If your parents *QUALIFY* to claim you as their dependent, then you have no choice but to indicate on your own tax return that "I can be claimed on someone else's return". It doesn't matter if your parents actually claim you or not.

If your parents qualify to claim you, then my bet is they qualify to claim your newborn too (assuming the baby was actually born in 2019 and not 2020).

I am 19 and filing myself this year

How old you are today doesn't matter. Your age on Dec 31 of the tax year is what matters, along with your student status in 2019. (that includes being a high school student)

Hal_Al

Level 15

Q. Why can’t I claim my baby as my dependent?

A. Because you checked the box that says you can be claimed as a dependent. A dependent (or potential dependent) cannot have a dependent of her own. Just say no when asked if you can be claimed as a dependent.

That said, let's get to the real issues:

What makes you think they can claim you? That is, do you live with them? Are you a full time student? What is your income? How do your support yourself and your child?

How do you qualify as Head of household?

If you parents can claim you, they can probably claim your baby too. Have you compared which filing method gets the family the most money?