Can I claim a child that doesn't live with me?

Yes. The person doesn't have to live with you in order to qualify as your dependent on taxes. However, the person must be a relative who meets one of the following relationship test requirements: Your child, grandchild, or great-grandchild.
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Can you let someone else claim your child?

To claim a dependent child, no one else may be able to claim you as a dependent on their taxes. Your dependent must also be a U.S. citizen, resident alien, national, or a resident of Canada or Mexico. In most cases, they must also: Be your child or a legal descendent of your children or your siblings.
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What is the penalty for claiming a child that is not yours?

Civil Penalties

If the IRS concludes that you knowingly claimed a false dependent, they can assess a civil penalty of 20% of your understood tax. However, if the IRS believes that you have committed fraud on your false deduction, it can assess a penalty of 75% to your understood tax.
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How does the IRS determine who claims a child?

If the child lived with the payer for the greater part of the year, then the payer is the custodial parent for federal income tax purposes. The custodial parent is generally the parent entitled to claim the child as a dependent under the rules for a qualifying child if the other tests for claiming the child are met.
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How long does a child have to live with you to be a dependent?

Your child must be under age 19 or, if a full-time student, under age 24. There's no age limit if your child is permanently and totally disabled. Do they live with you? Your child must live with you for more than half the year, but several exceptions apply.
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Claiming a Dependent on Taxes! (How To Claim Someone Who Doesn't Live With You



Can I claim a child that is not mine?

Claiming a Child on Taxes That Is Not Yours

She can be a step child, foster child, sibling, half sibling or adopted. The child of someone in any of those categories would also qualify if she meets the other criteria.
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What happens if non custodial parent claims child on taxes?

Non-custodial parents

The non-custodial parent can claim the child as a dependent if the custodial parent agrees not to on their own tax return. However, you must obtain a signed IRS Form 8332 or similar written document from the custodial parent allowing you to do so.
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What proof does the IRS need to claim a dependent 2020?

The dependent's birth certificate, and if needed, the birth and marriage certificates of any individuals, including yourself, that prove the dependent is related to you. For an adopted dependent, send an adoption decree or proof the child was lawfully placed with you or someone related to you for legal adoption.
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How do I prove my child lives with me for taxes?

Birth certificates or other official documents that show you are related to the child you claim. You may have to send copies of more than one person's birth certificate.
...
Official school records must include:
  1. The child's home address. ...
  2. The dates the child went to the school.
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What happens if two parents claim the same child?

If both parents claim the same child for child-related tax benefits, the IRS applies a tiebreaker rule. If a child lived with each parent the same amount of time during the year, the IRS allows the parent with the higher adjusted gross income (AGI) to claim the child.
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Can my boyfriend claim my child on his taxes?

You cannot.. Look at the answer above where it states " If not an actual relative, they must live with the person claiming them all 365 days of the year." A girlfriend and her children are not relatives.
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Can my sister claim my child on her taxes?

If your sister is your dependent, she can't claim any dependents of her own, including her child. If you can't claim your sister as a dependent, she'll be able to claim dependents and can likely claim her child as a dependent.
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What happens if two people claim the same dependent?

What happens if both parents claim the dependent on their tax return and submit it to the IRS? Their tax returns will both be rejected if both parents submit them claiming the same child. One or both parents will then have to amend their returns.
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Who can claim a child?

In certain cases, your divorce decree might say that one parent has custody, but the IRS determines that the other parent should be able to claim the child for taxes. For tax purposes, the custodial parent is usually the parent the child lives with the most nights.
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Can my ex wife's boyfriend claim my child?

Generally no, your former wife's boyfriend cannot claim minor children that are not his, but it depends on the circumstances.
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Which parent has the right to claim child on taxes?

You can claim a child as a dependent if he or she is your qualifying child. Generally, the child is the qualifying child of the custodial parent. The custodial parent is the parent with whom the child lived for the longer period of time during the year.
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Can the non custodial parent claim the Child Tax Credit?

Yes, a noncustodial parent may claim the child tax credit for his or her child if he or she is allowed to claim the child as a dependent and otherwise qualifies to claim the child tax credit.
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What happens when someone else claimed your child on taxes?

Answer when the IRS contacts you

You may receive a letter (CP87A) from us, stating your child was claimed on another return. It will explain what to do, either file an amended return or do nothing. The other person who claimed the dependent will get the same letter.
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What triggers an IRS audit?

Tax audit triggers: You didn't report all of your income. You took the home office deduction. You reported several years of business losses. You had unusually large business expenses.
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Can I sue my ex for claiming child on taxes?

Yes, you can do that but you don't want to. 2. If you are the custodial parent and If someone else claimed your child inappropriately, and if they file first, your return will be rejected if e-filed. You would then need to file a return on paper, claiming the child as appropriate.
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Does the IRS check your dependents?

The IRS computers look for the names and Social Security numbers of dependents who are claimed on more than one tax return and will take a closer look at both returns and try to determine who has the legitimate claim to the child as a dependent.
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Can I claim my girlfriend's kid if they live with me?

In general, if you have an unrelated individual such as a fiance (girlfriend or boyfriend) living with you as a member of your household, and the unrelated individual also has children that live with you as members of your household, then you can claim the unrelated children as dependents if your fiance does not have ...
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Can I claim a dependent who is not related to me?

To claim someone as a dependent who is not related to you, they must live in your home for the entire year along with the other requirements under the Qualifying Relative rules. 1. The person cannot be your qualifying child or the qualifying child of any other taxpayer.
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What is a qualifying relative dependent?

A Qualifying Relative is a person who meets the IRS requirements to be your dependent for tax purposes. If someone is your Qualifying Relative, then you can claim them as a dependent on your tax return. Despite the name, an IRS Qualifying Relative does not necessarily have to be related to you.
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What proof do I need to claim my nephew on my taxes?

For example, to claim your nephew, you must provide his birth certificate, his parent (your sibling)'s birth certificate, and your own birth certificate. If you are not related to the child (for example, your friend's child that you care for but never legally adopted), you cannot claim tax credits for the child.
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