I have a question about if I can claim my mom as a dependent on my taxes.  Where can I get a reliable answer?
156176
The answer line for the Internal Revenue Service.
666025
The $16,000 in alimony was taxable and should have been reported on your Mom's taxes in the year she received it. If it wasn't, it should be included on Worksheet B of the FAFSA as "other untaxed income" (question #79).\n\nIt is hard to say whether you will qualify for Pell, since there are a LOT of other factors that determine your eligibility besides just income.  If you (the student) have no income, if neither of you have any assets, and if your mother's ONLY income is alimony (and she is not remarried), then you will probably be eligible.  That's a lot of "IFs" though... Like I said, there's a lot more to your Pell eligibility than just your parent income.\n\nYou should include only your mom in the parent section of the FAFSA (the instructions clearly state that when parents are divorced the student should include only the information for the parent who provides 50% of more of your support -- since you live with your mom, that would be her.  If you indicate that your parents are divorced but then include both of them, your FAFSA will require a correction.)
286500
Claim yourself, you will get much more money. You're parent's can't claim you unless they paid 51% or more of your total expenses for the year.\n\nPlus, you are going to have to file state returns for the multiple states you earned income in. You'll only have to file one federal.\n\nIf you moved for work, or incurred any expenses in finding your job, you will be able to deduct those expenses as well, including mileage.
695766
First of all, if it is only you, you can not claim Head-of-Household.\n\nMost deductions available to the average taxpayer are at the bottom of page one of the 1040 and on Schedule A.\n\nWithout knowing more about your situation, if you claimed three all year and do not own a house, you are going to owe.
746872
Check with an attorney to see if you can get her declared incompetent and you should seek power of attorney to make financial decisions on her behalf.  It sounds like your brother has started this process already.  So discuss with attorney the possibility of courts deciding which of you have her best interests at heart.  \n\nI'm really sorry about what you are going through, when money gets in the middle of family affairs sometimes it gets complicated.  \n\nBest of luck to you and your mother!
145015
I went to irs.gov and searched for dependants and was refered to Publication 501 which contains the following information.\n\nExemptions for Dependents \nYou are allowed one exemption for each person you can claim as a dependent. You can claim an exemption for a dependent even if your dependent files a return. \n\nBeginning in 2005, the term “dependent” means: \n\nA qualifying child, or\nA qualifying relative.\n\nThe terms “qualifying child” and “qualifying relative” are defined later. \n\nYou can claim an exemption for a qualifying child or qualifying relative only if these three tests are met. \n\nDependent taxpayer test.\nJoint return test.\nCitizen or resident test.\n\nTests To Be a Qualifying Child:\nThe child must be your son, daughter, stepchild, eligible foster child, brother, sister, half brother, half sister, stepbrother, stepsister, or a descendant of any of them. \n\nThe child must be (a) under age 19 at the end of the year, (b) under age 24 at the end of the year and a full-time student, or (c) any age if permanently and totally disabled. \n\nThe child must have lived with you for more than half of the year. 2 \n\nThe child must not have provided more than half of his or her own support for the year. \n\nIf the child meets the rules to be a qualifying child of more than one person, you must be the person entitled to claim the child as a qualifying child.
119639
If you mean as an exemption on income taxes, it would depend on whether or not he supported you or not.  Are you a minor?  Are your parents divorced?  Did he contribute more than 50% toward your care?  There are a lot of factors to consider.  If you KNOW you have the legal right to claim yourself then just do it and he'll be the one who would have to refute it in case of an audit.
799136
Fafsa should help. Depending on your dependant/independant status, you wouldn't need your mom's income info.
939127
If you are responsible for 50% or more of her living expenses then you can claim her as a dependent if she lives with you or you have her in a qualified assisted living program. Talk to a tax consultant for the details on Filing. I have been taking care of my Mother-In-law for 5 years and claim her as a dependent.
363956
Call the IRS.  They have a help line for people in your situation, and 4/15 is fast approaching!
458498
Since she is saying you can't go out, I'm assuming you still live with her. I'd say what you need to do is move out. Two kids, a FT job and school is a pretty big amount of responsibility, yes, but if you're relying on her heavily as unpaid daycare and free rent, she will be able to continue to lord it over you and with a certain amount of justification.\n\nYou're sorta in a position where you've gotta pick your battles. You can attempt to sit down with her and have a mature conversation about how far you've come and what your future plans are, and that you do have a lot of responsibility, and you need time out with your friends to wind down now and then. I personally would either skip the tattoo for now - make it something that will be a 21st birthday present to yourself.\n\non the other hand, if i'm right that she is providing room, meals, and/or daycare to you free, you really AREN'T being a full-fledged adult. My advice to you is to move out and BE a grown up for real. I can tell you from personal experience that ANYONE can figure out a way to make this happen. find low-income housing, check in with WIC for help on some expenses, get the kids' dad to provide some support, etc. there are tons of resources out there if you look. To be a real adult you MAY have to go on welfare for a while, you may have to live in a much different type of situation than you are used to, but you'll be truly independent and self-sufficient. plus if you are no longer a dependent on your mother, she can't claim you on her taxes, which means you'll be totally seperate from you and you can start applying for need-based financial aid for school.\n\nNow, all this said, maybe you already are living on your own, she isn't babysitting or doing other stuff for you free, and she's just all up in your business. if that is the case, i'd just lay it on the line in no uncertain terms. i did that with my mother and we didn't talk for several months. she was furious that i would stand up to her. but i was totally on my own - she had no reason to rule my life. eventually she realized this and we're great now. and in your case, she'd probably come around sooner cause she'd miss the grandkids too. anyhow.\n\neither way, good luck. parents can be more exhausting than kids sometimes...
511562
Try using last years Federal Income Tax return.  If you claimed her as a dependent, you had to have put the number on your 1040.
603681
Call the IRS and ask.
245469
You are given an allowance in the Tax\nscheme for these things,so I don't think\nyou can claim them.check with your taxman\nto be sure.
41176
Hey Scott - Agree with Melvin...unless she does have some income which you do not know about or she may be collecting unemployment compensation which has been taxable since end of the 80's (boy, did the government sneak that one in - was NOT taxable like any other insurance such as workman's comp).  If she does owe taxes on some type on income, she may be applying for the "Earned Income Credit" - something you may want to look into yourself if you have not already (I'm assuming you have custody and sole financial responsibility that you can declare your two children as "dependents.) If this is the case, take all the deductions yourself - say NO!  Something does not "smell right" and this is a woman talking here!\nSasha
237787
Whisper is simply WRONG! Medicaid eligibility is based on INCOME and ASSETS, not dependency status. If you contribute more that 50% of your MIL's support, you may claim her as a dependent and it has no impact whatsoever on her medicare/Medicaid status. You cannot be liable for her debts unless you co-sign a debt agreement with her or guarantee payments yourself.\n\nBut why believe what you read online??  Call your Medicaid office and ASK! They will tell you.You will not have to identify yourself. The phone number is under Government Agencies. If you are worried about the debt issue, call a local attorney through a referral service and get a onetime consultation. Ask what the fee would be upfront, before you make the appointment. If it costs you more than $50-$100, say no thanks and call somebody else....\n\nGood Luck!
86331
If you have the kids for more than six months out of the year, you can claim them.  If you contribute more than half of the support, then you can claim them.  IRS will let whoever can't claim them  know in  a heartbeat.  They did us.  We could claim them , his ex couldn't.