Who Can Claim The Credit For Other Dependents?
The Credit for Other Dependents generally assists those with college-age children and other qualifying relatives. Taxpayers with children who do not have a Social Security number (SSN), but meet all other requirements for the Child Tax Credit, may also qualify for this tax credit. To learn more about who can claim the Credit for Other Dependents, keep reading.
Who Can Claim The Credit For Other Dependents?
If you can’t claim the Child Tax Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit, you may be able to claim the Credit for Other Dependents if:
- You claim someone as a dependent on your tax return; and
- That dependent is a U.S. citizen, national, or resident alien.
This includes dependent children of any age, including those older than 18, as well as relatives or other persons living with and supported by you. Dependents must have a Social Security number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), as well.
Dependent Qualifications
In addition to the requirements mentioned above, other conditions must be met to claim a dependent on your return and take the tax credit. First, you must be the only person claiming them as a dependent. Secondly, your dependent cannot be married and file a joint return with their spouse. The one exception to this is if they are only filing to claim a refund of income tax withheld or any estimated taxes paid.
They must also meet the other requirements to be claimed as either a qualifying child or a qualifying relative. If you can answer “yes” to all of the following you may claim them and take the credit.
Qualifying Child
- Your child is your son or daughter (natural, step, foster, or adopted), your sibling (natural, half, or step), or the offspring of any of them.
- They lived with you for more than half of the tax year.
- You provided more than half of their financial support.
- Your child is under the age of 19, or they are a full-time college student younger than 24. If your child is permanently and totally disabled (any age), they also qualify.
Qualifying Relative
- The person lived with you all year long, unless they are your grandparent or parent (natural or step), aunt, uncle, or in-law (son, daughter, father, mother, sister, or brother).
- They made less than the eligible income limit ($4,400 in 2022).
- You provided more than half of their financial support.
Grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, and in-laws do not have to live with you for the entire year to qualify if they meet the other dependent requirements.
You can also use the Does My Child/Dependent Qualify for the Child Tax Credit or the Credit for Other Dependents tool on IRS.gov to determine eligibility.
Maximum Credit Value
The maximum credit value for the Credit for Other Dependents is $500 per qualifying dependent. It begins to phase out for single taxpayers who earn more than $200,000 or $400,000 for married couples filing jointly. The credit is reduced by $50 for every $1,000 over the income limit.
The credit is also non-refundable, which means you can’t get a tax refund if the credit is more than what you owe in taxes.
Can I Claim This Credit With Other Tax Credits?
Although you cannot claim the Child Tax Credit, you may claim the following tax credits with the Credit for Other Dependents:
- Credit for Child and Dependent Care Expenses. You may claim the credit on qualifying employment-related expenses of up to $3,000 if you had one qualifying person, or $6,000 if you had two or more qualifying persons.
- Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). For 2022, the credit ranges from $560 (no children) to $6,935 (3+ children). The amount you receive is determined by your filing status, income, and the number of qualifying children claimed.
If you’re not sure which dependent tax credits you are eligible to claim, we recommend seeking the assistance of a tax professional. At MoneySolver, we offer affordable tax preparation services for individuals and small business owners. For a free consultation and price quote, call 855-476-6920 today!