You may claim your son (Age under 19), if he lived with you for over half the year and you provided over half of his support. So if he was in custody for over 6 months in 2016, you would not be able to claim him. If your son was older than 19, you would have had to provide over 50% of his total support for the year. If he was in custody for over 6 months, he is supported by the state. Please refer to the IRS tests below that help taxpayers determine if they can claim another as a dependent on their income tax returns.
A parent may claim their child if they meet either the qualifying child or qualifying relative test as outlined below:
Qualifying Child
These 5 tests (all of them), will qualify a child as a dependent:
• Relationship: They must be your child, adopted child, foster-child, brother or sister, or a descendant of one of these (grand or nephew).
• Residence: They had to live with you in the same residence for more than half the year. Being away at school is considered as living at home.
• Age: Must be under age 19 or under 24 and a full-time student for at least 5 months of the year. They can be any age if they are totally and permanently disabled.
• Support: child did not provide more than half of their own support during the year.
• Joint Support: The child cannot file a joint return for the year.
Qualifying Relative
These 4 tests (all of them) will qualify a relative as a dependent:
• Not Qualifying Child: They are not your or another taxpayer’s “qualifying child”
• Gross Income: Dependent has to earn less than $4,050 in 2016.
• Total Support: You provide more than half of the total support for the year.
• Member of Household or Relationship: The person (a friend, girlfriend, non blood relative) must live with you all year as a member of your household or be one of the relatives that doesn’t have to live with you (mother, father, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, stepmother, stepfather, your child, stepchild, foster child, adopted child, etc) Note: this list is not all inclusive.
