How do I determine my parents gross income to see if I can claim them as a dependent??

[Coleen3 · Accepted solution]

Add their various forms of income together. A qualifying relative must earn less than $4,200. At such a low income amount, social security will not count as taxable income. Support is a separate issue Social security will count towards support that they contribute.

Are they filing a joint return? You cannot claim someone who is married and files a joint tax return. Say you support your married teen-aged son: If he files a joint return with his spouse, you can’t claim him as a dependent. If your parent is married, he or she must file separately. There is an exception if your parent is filing jointly, but has no tax liability. If your parent files a joint tax return solely to get a refund, you can claim him or her as a dependent.

You must provide more than half of the support for your parent during the year. Support includes amounts spent to provide food, lodging, clothing, education, medical and dental care, recreation, transportation, and similar necessities. 

[mollyb2]

If they filled jointly this year their total comes out to 0.00 can we still claim them?

[macuser_22]

It is not the amount of tax, it is the income (line 38 on the 1040 or 21 on 1040A shows Adjusted Gross Income.

If they have no taxable income at all, then they do not even have to file.