My fiance doesn't work and watches our son while I am at work. Since he has no income, I claim them both on my taxes. Does claiming my fiance get me back a larger refund?

[erin_g11]

Could you explain the reasoning behind your answer please so that I may understand it? I'm not sure if I messed up or not somehow but when I claimed him last year, I didn't receive anything for my fiance, only for our son.

[xmasbaby0 · Accepted solution]

By claiming your fiancé as a dependent, you get the $4050 personal exemption for him, which lowers your taxable income.  You do not receive anything such as earned income credit for claiming him, which you might be getting for your child, if you qualify for EIC.

[Critter]

Requirements to be a Qualifying Relative:

1. The person cannot be your qualifying child or the qualifying child of any other taxpayer.
2. The person either (a) be related to your in one of the following ways:
Your child, stepchild, foster child, or a descendant of any of them
Your brother, sister, half brother, half sister, stepbrother, or stepsister.
Your father, mother, grandparent, or other direct ancestor, but not foster parent.
Your stepfather or stepmother.
A son or daughter of your brother or sister.
A brother or sister of your father or mother.
Your son-in-law, daughter-in-law, father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law.
or (b) must live with you all year as a member of your household (and your relationship must not violate local law).
3. The person's gross income for the year must be less than $4,050 for 2016 (social security benefits do not count).
4. You must provide more than half of the person's total support for the year.

There is a very good worksheet to help you determine how much support you provide. It is on page 15 of IRS Pub. 501
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p501.pdf