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Level 2
Jan 17, 2021 10:51 PM UTC
Question

Dependent

My Mom wants to take me off on her taxes as a dependent. Here's the situation.

 

I am 31, the sole proprietor of a business since October and I have had income from eBay all year. The house I live in has both of our names on the deed and is paid off. It's her secondary home and my primary. I pay for all of my basic costs except she pays the electric bill and water as well as various other things like Netflix which she uses elsewhere but I have access to. She loaned me 13, 000 with a five percent interest rate which she took out of a retirement account. The money was used for various costs with my business. 

 

My question is whether or not paying the electric bill legally qualifies me as a dependent and if it is legal then where does that leave me with my taxes?

 

She did take me off as a dependent last year for the first time since college because I was out of work for a year and in 2019 she did pay more than half of my keep. 

5 replies

Level 15
Jan 17, 2021 11:32 PM UTC

To claim you, you could not have earned more than $4,300 and she would have to have paid more than half of your support. 

Alh0006Author
Level 2
Jan 17, 2021 11:45 PM UTC

That's about what I figured. It seemed bizarre to me but she keeps insisting she can.

Level 15
Jan 17, 2021 11:58 PM UTC

If you can’t convince her you should file as soon as possible because if she files first and claims you, your return will be rejected.