topic Can i claim my child as a dependent if I only worked two days in Deductions & credits

Can i claim my child as a dependent if I only worked two days

amandadglucky — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 00:19:18 GMT

Two days the entire year? Any other income of nay type?

SweetieJean — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 00:19:20 GMT

Two days the entire year? Any other income of nay type?

How long you worked has no bearing on claiming dependents...

Carl — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 00:19:22 GMT

How long you worked has no bearing on claiming dependents. Either you qualify to claim the child as your dependent, or you do not. Work has nothing to do with it. However, if you only worked two days, and that's the only taxable income you have to report for the tax year, I seriously doubt you earned more than $10,350 for the tax year. So claiming a dependent would be of no tax benefit at all. However, if you do "in fact" qualify to claim them, then by all means do. Otherwise there's the risk that someone else will claim them illegally. By you claiming the child, it "locks out" the probability of someone else claiming them illegally.
Also note that if *you* are claimed as a dependent on someone else's return, then *you* can not claim any dependents at all.

Yes, but the money you hear about people getting for just...

Hal_Al — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 00:19:24 GMT

Yes, but the money you hear about people getting for just filing a tax return claiming kids requires you to have some earned income (wages or self employment). Without earned income, you are not eligible for the "refundable" Earned Income Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit.

$100 of wages will get you a "refund" of about $40 by filing a tax return claiming one kid.

If you live with other family members, one of them may be able to claim your child and get a much bigger refund.