Can I claim my spouse who only worked 6 months of the year, as a dependent?

[christophercastellano19]

We just had a baby and she stopped working in June of 2024. We are a military family household.

[VolvoGirl · Accepted solution]

A spouse is never a dependent.  You just file a Joint return even if they have little or no income.  Joint is better than filing them as a dependent.

[xmasbaby0 · Accepted solution]

No you cannot claim your spouse as a dependent.   File a joint return.   That way you get the standard deduction for a married couple, which makes a lot less of your income taxable.

Married Filing Jointly is usually better, even if one spouse had little or no income. When you file a joint return, you and your spouse will get the married filing jointly standard deduction of $29,200 (+ $1550 for each spouse 65 or older)  for 2024. You are eligible for more credits including education credits, earned income credit, child and dependent care credit, and a larger income limit to receive the child tax credit.