01/23/2026
Let’s talk about the dependents you claim. Some of you are filing grandchildren, nieces, nephews, brothers, sisters, and even fathers claiming their kids—and many of you don’t qualify.
You might be helping to take care of your family members, but if you don’t meet the tests for tax credits like EITC, CTC, or the HOH filing status, you aren’t supposed to be getting a refund or filing them on your taxes.
The IRS rules for claiming dependents are clear:
• They must live with you for over 6 months of the year.
• You must provide more than 50% of their support.
These two requirements alone disqualify many people from claiming certain dependents. And if you don’t have proper documentation to prove you can claim them, be prepared to pay that money back if you’re audited.
Too many people think that just because someone has multiple kids or because they have dependents in their family, they can simply claim those kids on their taxes. Years ago, you might’ve gotten away with it, but the IRS is cracking down harder than ever. It doesn’t matter if you’ve claimed a dependent for 15 years—if they don’t live with you and you can’t prove it, you’re taking a big risk by claiming them and lying to your tax professional.
On the flip side, if the dependents live with you and you can prove it, then by all means claim them! If you’re providing for them, they live with you, and you meet the necessary requirements, you have every legal right to claim them.
Know the rules and stay compliant! It’ll save you a lot of headaches down the line.
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