Elderly Parents living with me

[kat63]

My 80+ yr old parents live with me all of 2025, can I claim them as dependents since I pay for everything. They file joint taxes every year but don't receive a refund or pay in.

[xmasbaby0]

What income did your parents have?   What are they entering on the joint tax return that they file each year?

[kat63]

under 30k

[xmasbaby0]

That does not answer the question well enough.   Is their income Social Security or something else like income from a pension, investments, etc, etc.

[kat63]

sorry

SSI

Pension

IRA Distribution

[xmasbaby0]

The Social Security does not "count" but anything over $5200 per parent that is not Social Security, means they cannot be claimed as anyone else's dependent.

IRS interview to help determine who can be claimed:

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

Qualifying relative

• They don't have to be related to you (despite the name).
• They aren't claimed as a dependent by someone else.
• They're a U.S. citizen, resident alien, national, or a Canadian or Mexican resident.
• They aren’t filing a joint return with their spouse.
• They lived with you the entire year (exceptions apply).
• They made less than $5200 in 2025 (not counting Social Security)
• You provided more than half of their financial support.