Can You Claim Parents as Dependents?

Sometimes we’re so busy growing up that we forget they’re growing old.

Everyone knows that claiming a dependent on your income tax return can get you a significantly larger refund. For every dependent you claim on your taxes you can claim an extra personal exemption. That’s a large chunk of change you can deduct from your income, thus reducing your tax burden.

But who exactly can you claim? Are you eligible to claim your parents as dependents?

When it comes to taxes there are actually two different types of dependents: qualifying children and qualifying relatives.

Obviously, you can’t claim your parents as qualifying children. So the question becomes, do they meet the requirements for qualifying relatives?

Is your parent a qualifying relative for tax purposes?

In order to claim someone as a qualifying relative they must:

  • Have lived with you all year as a member of your household, or be one of the following family members: child, parent, sibling, stepparent, stepchild, step-sibling, half sibling, grandparent, grandchild, child-in-law, parent-in-law, sibling-in-law, uncle, aunt, niece, or nephew
  • Be a U.S. citizen or resident, or a resident of Canada or Mexico
  • Be unmarried, or married but not filing a joint return
  • Not be a qualifying child of you or someone else
  • Have a gross income of less than $4,000
  • Have more than half of their total support for the year provided by you

In plain English, this means that yes you can claim a parent as a dependent but they have to meet the above requirements.

Are Social Security Benefits included?

As a general rule, Social Security benefits are not included in gross income. For more information about Social Security and Disability benefits, check out our other article, Claiming Parents as Dependents If They Receive Social Security Benefits. Be sure to make sure they are tax-exempt, because this could determine your eligibility to claim them as a dependent.

When determining if you provided over 50% of a parent’s total support, be sure to consider

  • lodging
  • food expenses
  • utilities
  • repairs
  • household expenses
  • clothing
  • education
  • medical and dental expenses
  • travel
  • recreation expenses

If you support a parent who meets all of the requirements listed above be sure to claim them when you file online this season!

WATER SPORT (1)

233 Replies to “Can You Claim Parents as Dependents?”

  1. I have claimed my mother as a dependent for the last few years because she was on social security disability and living with me. Should we have filed taxes for her as well? Also she past away last year in January can I still claim her as a dependent and does that change my filing status to head of household ?

    1. Hi Amanda,
      I’m sorry to hear about your loss. Regarding your three questions. One, if her income was less than $25,000 (for each year), her taxes do not need to be filed. Two, you can claim her as your dependent as long as she qualifies as a “qualifying relative”. Third, you can file as Head of Household if the following are true;

      • you are unmarried
      • you provided more than half of the costs to upkeep the home
      • a “qualifying relative” or “qualifying child” needs to live with you for at least half the year.

        That means if your mother lived with you for at least half the year and you are unmarried, and provided half the costs of your home, you can file as Head of Household.

  2. My question is can my son claim me as dependent on his income taxes (2014). He is 21 and I am 43.I
    Don’t work and he does. He takes care of the household and buy my medicine, when I need it. We meet all the requirements. abive

      1. My daughter tried claiming herself as head of household, and claiming me as a dependent. She pays everything, the lady doing her taxes said she has to be 25 to claim me is this right?

      2. Hi Barb,

        Your daughter is still able to claim you as a dependent as long as she meets the requirements to do so set forth by the IRS. Keep in mind that there other tax benefits that she will not qualify to take advantage of until she is 25 years old (for example, claiming the EIC in some cases).

  3. My father lived with me all of last year, up until his death in October. Do I still need to claim him when I file? The only income he received was from disability.

    1. Hi Venessa,
      I’m sorry about your loss. Yes, you can claim your father as a qualifying relative dependent on your 2013 tax return this tax season, as long as the following apply;
      1. No one else is claiming him
      2. He lived with you from Jan. 1, 2013 until his passing.
      3. His gross income was under $3,900
      4. You provided more than half of his support for the year.

    1. If you are itemizing your deductions (rather than taking the standard deduction) and you save your receipts, you can deduct some travel expenses (gas,etc) for medical-related situations, unemployment-related, volunteer-related and relocation expenses for new employment. If you are itemizing your deductions and saving receipts, there are also additional deductions you can use to lower your tax liability.

  4. If I pay all the support for my granson and he made 4,000 for washing cars during the summer and that
    is his only income. Would I be able to claim him as a dependent on my taxes or is his income too high. He also lived with me all year long and can not be claim as a dependent for any one else because his parents or deceased.

    1. The limit for the dependent’s income is $3900 in 2013. You can claim his as a dependent if for some reason he made under $3900 and as long as he is under 19 or under 24 and a full time student for at least 5 months.

      1. My aunt stays with me and she doesn’t work at all. Can I claim her as a dependent. I pay everything and supply everything.

      2. I lived with my son for 6 months. Can he claim me as a dependent? He has cared for me, making sure that I get to my doctor’s and he gives me a place to live. He also pays for all of my needs.

      3. Hi Leva,

        In order for your son to claim you as a qualifying dependent, all four of the following tests (according to the IRS) must be met:

        1. You must not be his qualifying child dependent.
        2. He must be related to you according to IRS terms (father and son relation is acceptable).
        3. You must have earned less than $4,000 in gross income during 2015.
        4. He must have provided more than half of the individual’s total support during the year.

        As long as all of these terms are met, your son is more than likely able to claim you a qualifying dependent relative.

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