Do LDS Missionaries have to file taxes while on a mission and no income is earned?

[sunshinejoe]

My son turned 20 this year. He is on missionary work within the USA, and not on my insurance (he is on the church's insurance, if any) and he is covered by Indian Health Services for being a descendent of a Native American Tribe.

Do I file taxes for him on his behalf? Zero income

Can I claim him on my taxes? - I think the answer to this is no, but just wondering if I am doing something wrong.

Can I get him on Obamacare under his own policy or together with his mom, who is on Obamacare?

Everyone lives in the same household

[Critter]

Do I file taxes for him on his behalf? Zero income   IF he has no income then he has no reason to file an INCOME tax return.

Can I claim him on my taxes? - I think the answer to this is no, but just wondering if I am doing something wrong. Yes you can since he had no income and he is away from home on a temporary basis sort of like college & he would live at home if he was not doing that,

Can I get him on Obamacare under his own policy or together with his mom, who is on Obamacare?  You should be able to put him on the Obamacare for 2019 if the circumstances will remain the same.  Research that on the ACA marketplace site to be sure.

[SteamTrain]

Will need to investigate the Dependent issue closer:  While you may be able to get an ACA policy for him..

A BYU Missionary & taxes publication...filled with gobbledygook, indicates that missionary work is not included in the "temporary absence" for college type of rule  (starting at the bottom of labelled page 248....page 17 of the PDF, below).  OF course, if the son  was a student in college for the first 5 months, plus some time at home in the year before going on the mission....then the first year of missionary work may allow you to claim them as a dependent.

But there are a ton of other qualifications.....you might be better off seeking advice from the LDS main missionary board in SLC   (even local boards may be misinformed).  They may have issued a simpler advice document on claiming a Missionary child as a dependent, and  in what situations  it may be allowed or not.

<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://digitalcommons.law.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1531&context=jpl">https://digitalcomm...>

[Critter]

Excellent points & good advice.