In order to claim an exemption for a dependent, there are five dependency tests that must be met. And the person who qualifies as your dependent cannot claim a personal exemption on his or her own tax return.
Dependency tests:
Member of household or relationship test
Citizen or resident test
Joint return test
Gross income test
Support test
Qualifying Child Tests
Beginning in 2005, the IRS has standardized its criteria for a “qualifying child” for purposes of the dependency exemption, head of household filing status, earned income credit, child tax credit, and the credit for child and dependent care expenses, resulting in a uniform definition of a qualifying child for all these purposes. There are four tests that must be met in order to claim someone as a qualifying child:
Relationship test: The child must be your child, including an adopted child, stepchiled or foster child, your brother or sister, step-brother or step-sister, nephew or niece.
Residency test: The child must live with you for over half the year, except for temporary absences for school, vacation, medical care, or military service, for example.
Age test: The child must be under age 19 at the end of the year, or under age 24 if the child is a full-time students. If the child is permanently and totally disabled, there is no age restriction.
Support test: The child cannot have provided over half of his or her own support during the year.
General Tests for Dependents
A dependent does not have to be your child. As long as the person meets the following tests, he or she can be claimed as your dependent.