Claiming Girlfriend or Guyfriend as a Tax Dependent
Updated to tax year 2024.
If your significant other and you live together without being married you likely share many expenses. You may even be financially supporting each other. In such a scenario, you may wonder if you can claim your girlfriend or boyfriend as a dependent on your tax return to take advantage of any tax benefits.
Claiming a dependent on your taxes can lower your taxable income, but does your significant other count as a dependent? Here are the facts on how you could claim a domestic partner on your tax return according to the IRS dependent rules.
What are the tax benefits of claiming my boyfriend or girlfriend as a dependent?
When you claim someone as your dependent, you are responsible for their financial well-being, including providing for their food, clothing, housing, and other necessities. You may be able to claim your partner as a dependent if you provide them with more than 50% of their financial needs throughout the year. If your significant other qualifies for a tax credit, you can claim up to $500 if they qualify as your dependent. If your boyfriend or girlfriend had a lot of medical and dental expenses during the year that you helped pay for, you may also be able to deduct some of those expenses if you itemize.
What are the requirements for claiming my significant other as a dependent?
The IRS dependent rules are very particular regarding who qualifies as a dependent. If you are not married, many couples will not be able to claim their domestic partner as a dependent under IRS rules. If you are uncertain whether you can claim your domestic partner on your tax return, TaxAct(r) can help you determine whether the individual qualifies during the filing process.
According to the IRS dependent rules, only qualifying children and relatives count as dependents. Don’t be confused by the term “relative”. A domestic partner can be considered a relative under IRS regulations if they meet specific qualifications.
If you want to claim your boyfriend or girlfriend as a dependent on taxes, your situation has to meet all of the following IRS requirements:
1. You must live together.
For your significant other to qualify as a dependency, they must have lived with them for at least one year. You cannot claim your significant as a dependency if you have only lived together for a short time.
2. Your significant other earned less than $5,050 for 2024.
According to the IRS dependent rules, your boyfriend or girlfriend must have earned less than $5,050 for the 2024 tax year if you want to claim them as a dependent. If your partner has earned more than the limit they have basically earned enough to prove to IRS that they are able to support themselves financially. You can’t claim your boyfriend or girl friend as a dependent if they earn more than the threshold. This is true even if you pay the majority of the bills and live with them. You may be able claim your significant other on your taxes if your pay more than 50% of the basic living expenses. Housing, groceries, education and medical expenses are all living expenses. Documentation is key when you are claiming any special tax deduction in case the IRS asks for proof. Documentation is key when you are claiming any sort of special tax deduction in case the IRS asks for proof.
When can’t I claim my significant other as a dependent?
Even if you and your partner meet the above qualifications, the IRS dependent rules include several caveats and further restrictions.
For instance, you cannot claim your partner as a dependent on your taxes if someone else can claim them as a dependent on their tax return. Each dependent can be claimed only by one taxpayer. So, if your significant other’s parents, children, or ex-spouse claim them as a dependent, you cannot also claim them as a dependent.
Lastly, to claim your boyfriend or girlfriend as a dependent, they must be a citizen, national, or resident of the United States. Residents of Canada and Mexico are also eligible.
The CDCC is a tax credit for people who pay for child or dependent care to care for a qualified dependent. The CDCC is different from claiming your domestic companion on your tax return. You cannot claim this credit unless you paid for your significant other to receive care during the time you worked or searched for work. Our tax preparation software will ask questions about your dependents, and then help you claim any tax credits or deductions that are associated with your answers. We’ll walk you through the process of claiming a dependent step-by-step to make it as easy as possible.
This article is for informational purposes only and not legal or financial advice.
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