Tax question Since I only worked a month last year and didn't make shat, can my SO claim me? And if…

I know we looked into it when I was going to be a stay at home mom. Spouses can't be claimed as dependents although we can still file as married filing jointly even if I have zero income. Not sure how it works if you're not married though

No, he can't claim you. If you earned income you will.have to file taxes yourself, you won't just be able to add your info onto his.

Okay thank you! I was going to have him claim me but I was totally confused on how I would add my little to no income lol

SO claimed me. But we aren't married lol

Is that legal? To claim while unmarried? Never heard of that before. I never had anyone claim myself before but I have worked.

@band but did you have any income last year?

Last year, I worked 1 month out of the year. They told me it was no point in filing since I only made $300 at a baby store.

No, unmarried couples typically cannot file jointly & you do not qualify as a dependent being a non-relative.

In states that recognize common law marriage there are options to file jointly but I'm not sure the specifics on it.

Even if you're in a state that recognizes common law, the Feds don't. You can't file jointly if you're unmarried. Sorry. And as pp said, you probably didn't make enough to even bother filing...if you're filing single it's 10.3k.

Here's the publication that cites common law marriage in states that recognize it (and you meet the criteria of common law marriage) allows you to file as married.

Pg 6

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p501.pdf

ETA: You're still not a *dependent* though & your income would be included in your overall income together.

I worked part time at the very end of my pregnancy and only made $2,000. So I didn't file taxes, I didn't make enough to get anything. SO claimed me and our LO and we got a lot back lol.

Runs is right! The document I read must have been outdated!!

Here's a little blurb about which states.

As of publication, only eight U.S. states, plus the District of Columbia, recognize common law marriages. These include Alabama, Colorado, Kansas, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Iowa, Texas and Montana. Five other states recognize common-law unions, but only if the marriage was entered into before a certain date. These include Georgia, Pennsylvania, Idaho, Ohio and Oklahoma.

http://finance.zacks.com/can-unmarried-couple-file-jointly-income-tax-3654.html

As long as you aren't married then your boyfriend can claim you as a dependent on his federal income taxes if you meets the IRS definition of a "qualifying relative."

My SO claimed me the first year I was a SAHM before being married, I had worked less than a month and didn't make enough to even bother filing so we just did it under his and he claimed me as a dependent.

The short answer is yes, if you meet certain qualifications. Here is a link that turbo tax has about what qualifies. http://blog.turbotax.intuit.com/tax-deductions-and-credits-2/can-i-claim-my-girlfriend-or-boyfriend-as-a-dependent-21025/

Looks like if you lived together *all year*, you made less than 4K, and he provided more than half your support then you DO qualify as a dependent bc you meet the requirements of being a "qualifying relative"....

If you did not live together the entirety of the year then you don't qualify regardless of minimal income or him providing half your support.

*learned something new reading IRS publications*

https://apps.irs.gov/app/vita/content/globalmedia/table_2_dependency_exemption_relative_4012.pdf