Can I claim my parents who are married as dependents? One is disabled and the other is dying without my insurance. I will become their custodians. We do not live together

[mijan68]

I am also a veteran with a ok/great federal job, I can afford the basic expenses this will bring on but I do not want to mess with my or my parents taxes.

[xmasbaby0]

You have not provided enough information about your parents.  We do not know what income they receive.  Do they get Social Security?   Do they get any sort of other income like income from retirement accounts or pensions, investments, rental property, etc.?   Do they file a joint tax return?

[xmasbaby0]

Also.....please clarify why you mention this....

"...One is disabled and the other is dying without my insurance."

Are you paying for your parents' medical expenses?   Why are you mentioning your insurance?   If you claim your parents as dependents on a tax return do you have some reason to expect to be able to add them to your own health insurance?  Have you looked into that with your insurance?

As for "one is disabled"-- there is no extra  federal tax credit for claiming a disabled dependent unless you have to pay for someone to take care of that dependent so that you can work, and then you may be able to use the dependent care credit.  You say they do not live with you.

[xmasbaby0]

IRS interview to help determine who can be claimed:

https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/who-can-i-claim-as-a-dependent

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/3113432-who-can-i-claim-as-my-dependent  

CREDIT FOR OTHER DEPENDENTS

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/4499708-what-is-the-500-credit-for-other-dependents-family-tax-cre...

[Opus 17]

In general:

1. You can't claim your parents if they file a joint return (married filing jointly), unless they owe no tax and claim no credits, and the only reason they filed is to get a refund of withholding.

2. If your parents file separately or don't file tax returns, then there are two tests you must meet--these tests are considered individually, one person at a time.

a. the person has less than $4700 of taxable income.

b. you pay more than half their total financial support.

There are a couple other rules, but those are the main ones.  Review publication 501 for the full rules. 

https://www.irs.gov/publications/p501#en_US_2022_publink1000196863

Separately, you may be able to deduct medical expenses you pay for them on your return even if you can't claim them as dependents.  You can deduct medical expenses as long as you pay more than half their total financial support, and the only reason you can't claim them as dependents is the income test or the joint return test.  Remember that social security counts as support not provided by you, even if it is not taxable.