Who Really Qualifies as a Dependent for Taxes?
How many dependents do you really have? Who can really be counted as a dependent? These are some of the most common questions that all taxpayers have. Can you count all of your children, live-in help, or perhaps a dog or other family pet? What about a friend who decides to crash at your place and basically mooch off you the entire year; can he or she be counted as a dependent?
As far as the IRS is concerned, there are two different kinds of dependents but there are dozens of scenarios that can fall under these two categories. There are also different rules for each type. The first type of dependent is classified as a qualifying child. The second type is a qualifying relative.
A qualifying child must be related to you, either by birth or adoption, or be a step or foster child. You must also provide more than half of the child’s total financial support and you can be the only person claiming that child on your return. To be a dependent the child must also be 18-years-old or younger, or if he or she is a full-time student, younger than 24-years-old.
The rules for being counted as a qualifying relative are much different. First, if your relative is a blood relative then he or she does not have to live with you in order to be counted. However, he or she must not provide more than half of his or her own support and that person cannot make more than $4000.
For a person who is not a blood relative to qualify as a dependent – like a lifelong friend who is down on his/her luck, or just plain lazy, or even your significant other – that person must live with you the entire year and their income must be less than $4,000 for the entire year. No one else can claim the person and you have to provide more than half of his or her financial support.
No Longer Just Black and White
No Longer Just Black and White By Myron Curry President of BusinessTrainingMedia.com Diversity in the workplace used to hinge upon the level of responsibility, pay, and respect that one could receive based upon the color of skin and ethnicity. But, these days, diversity in the workplace has become much more than that. Most CEO’s and…
Four Key Diversity Recruitment & Retention Strategies
Four Key Diversity Recruitment & Retention Strategies From BusinessTrainingMedia.com Workforce Article Library 1) Recruitment and retention strategy. Most employers find that it is generally easier to recruit people than it is to retain them. Unless organizations create a climate that welcomes and is hospitable to those who are in some way different from the existing…
How to have More Leadership Courage – 3 Tips
How to have More Leadership Courage – 3 Tips By Mike Rogers Teamwork and Leadership Bloggings Updated: 12/19/12 Mark Twain once said: Let’s face it, being a leader is not easy. Some times it requires great courage in a very personal way. Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every…
Four Reasons People Fail
Four Reasons People Fail By JD Vaughn www.jdvaughn.com Let’s set the tone and context for this discussion. First of all, people do not go into work saying to themselves…”Let’s see, how can I disappoint my boss today.” People really WANT to deliver on our expectations of them. And when they fail, a leader is most…