Can you claim a dependent who is not related to you?

[Mike9241 · Accepted solution]

Yes if all these rules are met

Qualifying Relative and eligible to be claimed as a dependent the rules are:

• lived in your household the entire year. temporary absences are ignored
• gross income for 2023 less than $4,700
• you provide over ½ their support
• isn’t a qualifying child of another taxpayer
• you can’t be claimed as a dependent
• the person must be unmarried or if married must not file a joint return unless they are only filing to claim a refund. Also, there must be no tax liability for either the dependent or the dependent’s spouse if they would have filed separate returns
• a US citizen, resident alien or national or a resident of Canada or Mexico