Who should claim the child on our tax return?

[gillettej89]

I am wondering who should claim our child. We live together and she already claims her first daughter as a dependent. We are not married. I make more than she does by a long shot as she only works 1 day a week. 

[CarolynM · Accepted solution]

You should claim your child. With you higher income, the benefits will have a greater impact on your return.

You should file as Head of Household. Not only will you receive benefit from claiming a dependent, you may also be eligible for certain tax credits involving children.

To claim a child as a dependent, he or she must: 

*            be your child (or adoptive or foster child), sibling, niece, nephew or grandchild;

*            be under age 19, or under age 24 and a fulltime student for at least five months of the year; or be permanently disabled, regardless of age; 

*            have lived with you for more than half the year; and

*            have provided no more than half his or her own support for the year.

For more information about the Head of Household status and the available tax credits, follow these links:

Head of Household

Turbo Tax on Dependents

https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/tax-deductions-and-credits/earned-income-credit/L4lmLBNWa

[gillettej89]

Now because she claims her daughter from a previous relationship, can she file head of household as well?