Can I claim my foster parent as dependent?

[DALIA2]

I want to know if I can claim my foster mother as dependent in my 2018 taxes.

[Ashby · Accepted solution]

She would have to qualify as a qualifying relative if you wanted to claim her as a dependent. Here's who qualifies:

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 are 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.
• They made less than $4,150 in 2018.
• 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. While you no longer receive an exemption for your dependents, there are other tax benefits you may be able to get when you claim a dependent.

[DALIA2]

My foster parent doesn't qualify as my parent?

[Ashby]

Parents fall underneath the guidelines of qualifying relative. There's no such thing as qualifying parent.