Not sure what you and your GF are trying to do. If your GF does not have any income from working, then filing an income tax return that claims her children will not get her any sort of refund. All of the child-related credits like child tax credit are based on having income from working. Did she work? If GF did not work, then she will not get any income tax refund, so claiming her children would not help her at all.
If GF had less than $5050 of income in 2024, not counting any Social Security, and she lived with you ALL year, then you can claim GF as a dependent and get the $500 credit for other dependents for claiming her. If the children lived with you ALL year, you may also be able to claim the children and get the same $500 credit for other dependents for claiming them. BUT-----if the children are not related to YOU then you cannot file as head of household, you cannot get the child tax credit and you cannot get earned income credit for claiming them.
IRS interview to help determine who can be claimed:
https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/who-can-i-claim-as-a-dependent
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/3113432-who-can-i-claim-as-my-dependent
WHO CAN I CLAIM AS A DEPENDENT?
You can claim a child, relative, friend, or fiancé (etc.) as a dependent on your 2024 taxes as long as they meet the following requirements:
Qualifying child
- They're related to you.
- 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're under the age of 19 (or 24 for full-time students).
- No age limit for permanently and totally disabled children.
- They lived with you for more than half the year (exceptions apply).
- They didn't provide more than half of their own support for the year.
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 $5050 in 2024.
- You provided more than half of their financial support.
When you add someone as a dependent, we'll ask a series of questions to make sure you can claim them. There may be other tax benefits you can get when you claim a dependent.
**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**
