Can I claim my adult son as a dependent?

[ll946qq]

 My son has had no job for 2 years, wife kicked him out, lived with me 7+ months last year, still does now. No income. I give him an "allowance" in hopes he will work. But his wife still covers his health insurance.

[DoninGA · Accepted solution]

You may be able to claim him as a dependent under the Qualifying Relative rules if he meets all the requirements under the rules.  Who pays for his health care coverage is not relevant.

To be a Qualifying Relative -

1. The person cannot be your qualifying child or the qualifying child of any other taxpayer. A child is not the qualifying child of any other taxpayer if the child's parent (or any other person for whom the child is defined as a qualifying child) is not required to file an income tax return or files an income tax return only to get a refund on income tax withheld.

2. The person either (a) must be related to you or (b) must live with you all year as a member of your household. 

3. The person's gross income for the year must be less than $4,150 (social security does not count) in 2018

4. You must provide more than half of the person's total support for the year.

5. The person must be a U.S. citizen or a U.S., Canada, or Mexico resident for some part of the year.

6. The person must not file a joint return with their spouse.

[ll946qq]

That is so helpful, thank you. I was worried about the healthcare part since it was one of the questions TurboTax asked.

[Ashby]

Yes, you can claim him as a dependent.

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 made less than $4,150 in 2018.
• You provided more than half of their financial support.

[bettymyers]

I claim my adult son who hasn't had a job in the last two years, and I pay for everything that he need except medical.  His wife left 2 yrs ago and went back home to England.   I was doing an estimate of my taxes and add

him on my taxes like i did last year   Now they are charging me for his medical for a 750.00 for the year 2020.

Did something change.

[Marveagle]

Why is the year for income under Qualifying Relative rules 2018?  I want to claim him for 2020.

[VolvoGirl]

You have posted on a very old thread from 2019 about 2018 returns.  The rules are the same for 2020 except the amount is 4,300 to claim someone.

[Marveagle]

Thanks.  Really appreciate the update.

Stay safe

Marv

[Marveagle]

Do you know if there will be any conflict if he files for 2020 to report a small amount of income from his savings/checking accounts?  Will this effect our claiming him as a dependent?  Sorry, but have never done this before.  He last worked in 2019.

Thanks again.

Marv