Who Can You Claim

Who can I claim as a dependent on my tax return? 

Let’s break down the IRS requirements for adding dependents to your tax return. 

First and foremost, a dependent is someone you support: you must have provided at least half of the person’s total support for the year—food, shelter, clothing, etc. Of course, there are other tests used to determine who you can claim as a dependent. 

Note: Claiming dependents no longer gets you a personal exemption, as the personal exemption was effectively eliminated in favor of a much higher standard deduction. 

What are the basic rules for claiming a dependent? 

Dependents are usually a child or other relative. Qualifying children and qualifying relatives have their own additional requirements, but all dependents must meet these requirements: 

• Dependents can have their own tax returns, and even be married, but they must not have filed a joint tax return for the year unless it’s just to claim a refund. 

• They must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, U.S. resident alien, or a resident of Canada or Mexico. 
   

A person considered eligible to be a dependent cannot claim another person as a dependent. 

Are there special rules for claiming a child as a dependent? 

When you’re claiming a child as a dependent, there are other requirements: 

• The child has to have lived with you for at least half of the year. 

• The child must not have provided more than half of his or her own support for the year. 

• The child has to be related to you as a son, daughter, stepchild, foster child, brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, stepbrother, stepsister, or a descendant of any of those. 

• The child must be 18 or younger at the end of the year, or under 24 if a student. To be a student, the child must have attended school full-time during at least five months of the year. The five months don’t have to be in a row. (Age doesn’t matter, however, if the child is totally and permanently disabled.) 

• The child must be younger than you (or your spouse, if Married Filing Jointly). 

Can I claim older relatives or unrelated persons as dependents on my tax return? 

Yes, provided they meet the following requirements: 

• The person can’t be a qualifying child of another person. 

• The person must be either related to you or must have lived with you all year as a member of your household. 

• The person's gross income for the year must be less than $5,050. 

• You must provide more than half of the person's total support for the year. 

Could my dependent still be required to file a tax return? 

Yes—your dependent could still need to file a tax return in certain situations. 

If your single dependent was under age 65 and not blind in 2024, the dependent must file a tax return if he or she had: 

• Unearned income more than $1,100 

• Earned income more than $12,550 

• Other requirements apply to gross income 

If your single dependent was blind or age 65+, the dependent must file a tax return if he or she had: 

• Unearned income more than $2,800 

• Earned income more than $14,250 

• Other requirements apply to gross income 

 
If your single dependent was age 65+ and blind, the dependent must file a tax return if he or she had: 

• Unearned income more than $4,500 

• Earned income more than $15,950 

• Other requirements apply to gross income 

 If your married dependent was under age 65 and not blind in 2024, the dependent must file a tax return if he or she had: 

• Unearned income more than $1,100 

• Earned income more than $12,550