Am I required to file my taxes if I was unemployed AND had a baby? Or am I entitled to receive anything?

[bmichellemartine]

I have been unemployed for awhile (2 years to be exact) and I just had my first baby in early 2015, am I required to file my taxes or could I obtain anything for my baby even though I'm still unemployed?

[SweetieJean]

Did you have any 2015 income at all, such as from unemployment comp? Are there any other adults living in your household?

[SweetieJean]

Are you a student?

[bmichellemartine]

No I am a homemaker currently, and I didnt receive any unemployment compensation and it's just my baby's father.

[jerry2000 · Accepted solution]

If you had no income, and paid in no tax, then there would be no benefit in filing a tax return. Baby or not, you get a refund only if you paid in more than than you owed, or if you qualified for a refundable credit. Unless you had earned income, you would not qualify for a refundable credit.

[SweetieJean]

However, if there is another adult living in the home, that person may be able to claim both you and the baby as dependents.

[bmichellemartine]

Thank you Jerry. Yes SweetieJean, my baby's father is the one working and covering all costs. I was not receiving any unemployment compensation or anything of the sort. Thank you as well, this has been helpful.

[SweetieJean]

He can certainly claim the baby. And he can also claim you IF you lived together all of 2015.