My son who is 2 was on someone else’s Medicaid the whole entire year. But he lived with me most of the year. I had a family friend help me out a lot and would take him to the dr for me while I was at work. I have custody but this family friend is telling me they are claiming him as their dependent this year. I’ve read the qualifying child requirements and my son is not related to this family friend. Can he still claim my son?
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Your friend can NOT claim your child.
There are two types of dependents, "Qualifying Children"(QC) and standard ("Qualifying Relative" in IRS parlance even though they don't have to actually be related). There is no income limit for a QC but there is an age limit, a relationship test and residence test. Only a QC qualifies a taxpayer for the Earned Income Credit and the Child Tax Credit. He definitely cannot claim the child as a QC, because, as you stated, he is not related.
A qualifying relative dependent only gets the taxpayer the (up to) $500 other dependent credit. But, your friend doesn't qualify for that either; see rule 6.
Qualifying relative dependent rules:
In addition to the above requirements, to claim your friend's children, they must meet all of the above requirements and:
--- your friend (you in this case) must not be required to file a return,
--- he/she does not file a return claiming the children
You can claim your son on your own tax return since you worked and may be able to get child-relatd credits and file as Head of Household. But something else seems fishy--how is a "friend" getting Medicaid for your child? Is this "friend" the child's other parent or a relative?
nothing to do to stop other person from claiming, but he would be your qualifying child entitling you to claim him and file as head of household. if he claims and files first, you will not be able to e-file. you'll have to mail in your returns.
if both claim, each of you will get a notice from the IRS asking for you to amend. you should ignore it. if he doesn't amend ther's a second notice asking for you to prove it. the one with the better proof in th eyes of the IRS will get him and the other will get a bill.
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