You can claim a boyfriend or girlfriend as a dependent on your federal income taxes if that person meets the IRS definition of a "qualifying relative."
Key Takeaways
- You can claim a boyfriend or girlfriend as a dependent on your federal income taxes if that person meets certain Internal Revenue Service requirements.
- To qualify as a dependent, your partner must have lived with you for the entire calendar year and listed your home as their official residence for the full year.
- If your partner has gross income above a certain amount ($4,700 for tax year 2023), you can’t claim that person as a dependent.
- You must have paid more than half of your partner’s living expenses during the calendar year in which you’re claiming that person as a dependent.
Claiming a partner as a dependent
You can claim a boyfriend or girlfriend as a dependent on your federal income taxes if that person meets the Internal Revenue Service's definition of a "qualifying relative."
Don't get tripped up by the word "relative" here—according to the IRS, it can include an unrelated person who passes the four following tests concerning:
- Residency
- Income
- Support
- Status
Is your partner an official resident?
Your partner must be a member of your household, meaning that they lived with you for the entire calendar year.
The law makes exceptions for temporary absences, such as vacations and medical treatment, but your home must have been that person's official residence for the full year.
However, if your living situation violates local law, you cannot claim that individual as a dependent. In some states, "cohabitation" by unmarried people is against the law.
TurboTax Tip:
In some states, "cohabitation" by unmarried people is against the law. If your living situation violates local law, you can't claim that individual as a dependent.
How much does your partner earn?
If your partner has gross income above a certain amount, you cannot claim that person as a dependent.
- Gross income is any income from any source that's subject to tax, whether it's wages, interest on a bank account or other types of taxable income.
- The limit for gross income varies from year to year.
- For the 2023 tax year, the income limit is $4,700.
How much money do you spend on your partner?
You must have paid more than half of your partner’s living expenses during the calendar year for which you want to claim that person as a dependent.
When calculating the total amount of support, you must include money and support that you and other people provided as well as theindividual’s own funds.
In other words, if your partner took money from a savings account to pay for food, housing or other living expenses, and the total amount withdrawn is more than half of the person's living expenses, you cannot claim them as a dependent.
Are you the only person claiming your partner as a dependent?
If your partner is already being claimed as a dependent by another person, you can't also claim them as a dependent. Only one person (or tax return, in the case of married couples filing jointly) may claim a specific tax dependent in any given tax year. Also, you cannot generally claim a married person as a dependent if they file a joint return with their spouse.
Online help
The IRS website offers an online "assistant" that can help you determine whether your boyfriend or girlfriend qualifies as a dependent.
Of course, if you prepare your taxes with TurboTax, we'll ask simple questions about your living situation, and tell you exactly who can and cannot be claimed as your dependent.
With TurboTax Live Full Service, a local expert matched to your unique situation will do your taxes for you start to finish. Or, get unlimited help and advice from tax experts while you do your taxes with TurboTax Live Assisted.
And if you want to file your own taxes, you can still feel confident you'll do them right with TurboTax as we guide you step by step. No matter which way you file, we guarantee 100% accuracy and your maximum refund.
FAQs
You must provide more than 50% of their financial support.
Can you claim an unmarried partner as a dependent? ›
You can claim a boyfriend or girlfriend as a dependent on your federal income taxes if that person meets certain Internal Revenue Service requirements. To qualify as a dependent, your partner must have lived with you for the entire calendar year and listed your home as their official residence for the full year.
How much can I get for claiming my boyfriend as a dependent? ›
Under tax reform, you can no longer claim a dependent exemption, but you still need to know who qualifies as your dependent for other tax benefits like the Other Dependent Credit worth up to $500 for those who are over 17 years old. Are you living with your girlfriend or boyfriend?
What qualifies someone as a dependent? ›
Relationship: Be your son, daughter, stepchild, eligible foster child, brother, sister, half-sister or -brother, stepbrother, stepsister, adopted child or the child of one of these. Age: Be under age 19 or under 24 if a full-time student, or any age if permanently and totally disabled.
Who cannot be claimed as a dependent? ›
Dependents are either a qualifying child or a qualifying relative of the taxpayer. The taxpayer's spouse cannot be claimed as a dependent. Some examples of dependents include a child, stepchild, brother, sister, or parent.
Can I claim my girlfriend as a dependent if she doesn't work? ›
Your significant other earned less than $4,700 in 2023 (increasing to $5,050 for 2024). According to the IRS dependent rules, your boyfriend or girlfriend must have earned less than $4,700 during the 2023 tax year or $5,050 for the 2024 tax year if you want to claim them as a dependent.
How to claim girlfriend on taxes? ›
To qualify as a dependent, your partner must have lived with you for the entire calendar year and listed your home as their official residence for the full year. If your partner has gross income above a certain amount ($4,700 for tax year 2023), you can't claim that person as a dependent.
Can you claim adults as dependents on taxes? ›
But did you know you can claim adult dependents as well? In general, an adult that you can claim as a dependent on your tax return is either a full-time student under the age of 24, a person who is permanently and totally disabled, or a parent that you support and/or care for.
What is the penalty for falsely claiming dependents? ›
Because you are technically filing your taxes under penalty of perjury, everything you claim has to be true, or you can be charged with penalty of perjury. Failing to be honest by claiming a false dependent could result in 3 years of prison and fines up to $250,000.
How much do you get for claiming one dependent? ›
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
| Earned Income Tax Credit (2024) |
|---|
| Dependents | Single or Head of Household | Maximum EITC |
|---|
| 0 | $17,640 | $600 |
| 1 | $46,560 | $3,995 |
| 2 | $52,918 | $6,604 |
1 more rowThis credit can be claimed for: Dependents of any age, including those who are age 18 or older. Dependents who have Social Security numbers or Individual Taxpayer Identification numbers. Dependent parents or other qualifying relatives supported by the taxpayer.
Can I claim my 20 year old as a dependent? ›
To meet the qualifying child test, your child must be younger than you or your spouse if filing jointly and either younger than 19 years old or be a "student" younger than 24 years old as of the end of the calendar year.
Does a dependent have to live with you? ›
Not necessarily. Certain relatives may qualify as dependents even if they don't live with you: Children (including legally adopted), stepchildren, foster children, or any of their descendants. Siblings, including half and step siblings.
What disqualifies you from being claimed as a dependent? ›
You can't claim a person as a dependent unless that person is a U.S. citizen, U.S. resident alien, U.S. national, or a resident of Canada or Mexico. 1 • You can't claim a person as a dependent unless that person is your qualifying child or qualifying relative.
When can you no longer claim someone as a dependent? ›
Once your child reaches the age of 18, they are considered an adult in the eyes of the IRS. However, if they are still a full-time student, you can continue to claim them as a dependent until they turn 24. Once they are no longer a full-time student, you must stop claiming them.
Can I claim my 30 year old son as a dependent? ›
There is no age limit for how long you can claim adult children or other relatives as dependents, but they must meet other IRS requirements to continue to qualify. Additionally, once they are over 18 and no longer a student, they can only qualify as an "other dependent," not a qualifying child.
Can you file taxes with someone you're not married to? ›
In addition, joint filers are eligible to take a Standard Deduction that's double that of a single taxpayer. However, since the IRS only allows a couple to file a joint tax return if the state they reside in recognizes the relationship as a legal marriage; unmarried couples are never eligible to file joint returns.
Can I claim my spouse as a dependent if they don't work? ›
If you maintain a residence with your spouse and financially support them, your spouse may be a dependent in a financial sense but not for tax purposes. Essentially, you can't claim someone as a dependent for the tax year unless that person is your qualifying dependent: either a qualifying relative or qualifying child.
What is an unmarried dependent? ›
Unmarried Dependent Child(ren means children who are primarily dependent upon the insured for maintenance and support and who are under the age of 19 and reside with the insured, beyond the age of 19 who are permanently mentally or physically challenged and incapable of self support, or up to the age of 25 if ...
Can I claim Head of Household if my girlfriend lives with me? ›
You can't use the Head of Household filing status with a boyfriend/girlfriend because this person is not related to you in the required ways. Learn more about the rules of whether you can claim a boyfriend/girlfriend as a dependent on your income taxes.
