In this episode of Dr. Friday’s Tax Tips, the importance of accurately claiming dependents on tax returns is discussed. Dr. Friday cautions listeners about claiming their girlfriend’s children as dependents, even if they are providing financial support. The eligibility of dependents depends on various factors, such as the duration of their stay and the taxpayer’s role as the sole breadwinner. Making mistakes when claiming the Earned Income Credit can result in severe consequences, including being barred from collecting the credit in the future. Taxpayers are advised to exercise caution and ensure they meet all requirements before claiming dependents on their tax returns.
Transcript
G’day, I’m Dr. Friday, president of Dr. Friday’s Tax and Financial Firm. To get more info, go to www.drfriday.com. This is a one minute moment.
I was reviewing some taxes and one thing I have noticed is sometimes people put on children that may not be legitimate deductions. So your girlfriend lives with you and even though you’re supporting the children, are they truly your dependents? That’s a really tough question and it really depends on how long they’ve stayed with you, have you the only breadwinner in the family, what is the story, just because she didn’t make any money and they put you on as head of household because she now lives with you, be very careful. If you make a mistake on earned income credit, the IRS can stop you from ever collecting earned income credit in the future.
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