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New Member
posted Mar 24, 2025 8:49:52 AM

How to claim foster child as dependent. I am trying to claim him on my taxes. He has lived with me over 6 months, but the software is saying unqualified. Please help.

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1 Replies
Expert Alumni
Mar 24, 2025 9:12:46 AM

In order to claim your foster child as a dependent, the requirements listed must be met.  A foster child would be considered your child.

 

  • Your son can not be  claimed as a dependent by someone else.
  • Your son is a US citizen, resident alien, national, or a Canadian or Mexican resident.
  • Your son is not  filing a joint return with their spouse.
  • Your son is under the age of 19 (or 24 for full-time students).
    • There's no age limit for permanently and totally disabled children.
  • Your son lived with you for more than half the year (exceptions apply).
  • Your son didn't provide more than half of his own support for the year.

TurboTax will ask you questions to determine if your son can be claimed as your dependent or not. If all of the requirements are met and he is being determined to be unqualified as your dependent, you can go back through your TurboTax screens to make sure you have answered all of the dependent-related questions properly.

 

You can get back to those screens in TurboTax as follows:

 

For TurboTax Online:

  1. go to the Personal profile screen.
  2. Review your TurboTax screens regarding your dependent and make sure you have answered everything accurately

For TurboTax Desktop: 

  1. Click on the Personal Info Tab
  2. Click on "Continue"
  3. Scroll down to "Dependents"
  4. Select "Edit" next to your Dependent
  5. Go through the TurboTax screens and make sure you have entered everything accurately

 

 

Click here for How do I add or remove a dependent?

 

Click here for "Rules for Claiming Dependents on Taxes"

 

Click here for "What Are Dependents?"

 

Click here for "Who can I claim as my dependent?"