Lesson 10, Topic 1

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🎥+✏️Qualifying Child Vs. Qualifying Relative 🟢

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Wendy Vargas 11 March 2025

What benefit do you get for claiming a relative? Also, it seems you get no benefit from claiming a friend as a dependent. So, why claim them?

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1. Maroun, CPA 15 March 2025
  
  Hello Wendy,
  
  A friend may be claimed as a dependent if they meet the criteria for a qualifying relative, but the only tax benefits would be:
  – The $500 non-child dependent credit (if they qualify).
  – A medical expense deduction only if you paid for their medical expenses and itemized your deductions.
  
  A friend does not qualify you for Head of Household status, even if they meet the criteria to be claimed as a dependent.
  
  I hope this helps!
  
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kulasekhar Reddy 20 October 2025

When boy friend or girl friend cannot qualify for HOH status then how can we claim them as dependents? (I mean under which filing status we claim them as dependents when we don’t qualify under HOH)

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1. Maroun, CPA 22 October 2025
  
  Hello kulasekhar,
  
  You can claim a boyfriend/girlfriend as a dependent (as a qualifying relative) even though they do not make you Head of Household.
  For a non-relative to be your dependent, all of these must be true:
  – They lived with you all year (entire year).
  – You provided over half of their support.
  – Their gross income was below the annual threshold for qualifying relatives.
  – They’re a U.S. citizen/resident/national (or meet the residency rules), not your qualifying child, and don’t file a joint return (unless only to claim a refund).
  
  They can qualify you for the $500 Other Dependent Credit (subject to phase-outs), but they do not make you eligible for Head of Household status.
  
  I hope this helps!
  
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