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New Member
posted Jan 22, 2022 3:25:07 PM

In the "add a dependent" prompts, we have to select whether one or both of us are legal parents. Because this a is foster child, we are not her parents. What do we select

The child is still our dependent since she has lived with us in care for over 6 months. Do we just select both my husband and I as "legal parents" as a technicality? Shouldn't there be an option for "Ward of the State" if you can file for a foster child under the "my child" category?

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6 Replies
Level 15
Jan 22, 2022 9:32:21 PM

If TurboTax is asking you who the child's legal parents are, you answered an earlier question wrong. Go back to the screen where you entered her name and birth date. At the bottom it asks if she is adopted, a foster child, or neither of those. Did you select "A foster child"? If you select "A foster child" on that screen, it will not ask who her legal parents are.

 

Level 2
Feb 22, 2022 11:48:57 AM

I'm in this same situation right now. I did select "foster child" but it wants me to select his legal parents. I am stuck here. Note: in my situation though, the child lived with us all year.

Employee Tax Expert
Feb 22, 2022 12:05:03 PM

For the purpose of filing your taxes, your "child" can be your:

  • Biological child
  • Adopted child
  • Foster child
  • Stepchild

You can skip the question on who the child's legal parents are. I did a mock-up return and was able to skip this question and successfully add a dependent.

 

Please choose the option that states the child is a foster child and whether the child was placed with you by an authorized placement agency, judgment, or court order.

 

@jaimiers

Level 2
Feb 22, 2022 12:16:37 PM

Thank you. It keeps asking me to review that part, do I just ignore the prompts that ask me to review that at the end of filling out my return data?

Employee Tax Expert
Feb 22, 2022 12:34:13 PM

Yes. Since you are both his foster parents, enter you and your spouse.

 

@jaimiers 

 

 

Level 2
Feb 22, 2022 2:12:16 PM

Thank you @LenaH I appreciate it.