# Claiming my parent as a dependent: Is Turbotax mistaken? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 3, 2006, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/claiming-my-parent-as-a-dependent-is-turbotax-mistaken/338241 "2006-01-03T16:42:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/claiming-my-parent-as-a-dependent-is-turbotax-mistaken/338241/1 "2006-01-03T16:42:26Z")
In preparation to e-file my taxes, I started putting some of my information into Turbotax today. I was asked if I had any family members who might qualify as dependents and I decided to run my mother through to see if she qualified. (A little background - my mother has been unemployed since last May, she lives with me, and I support her financially. I myself am single.) Turbotax asked me three questions about her, which I answered thusly: 1. Did she make more than $3200 in 2005? (Yes, her gross income was about $4300) 2. Did she live with me the entire year? (Yes) 3. Was she married at any time in 2005? (No) According to Turbotax, I can claim her as a dependent and receive a tax exemption for her. Turbotax also tells me that, by claiming her as a dependent, I qualify to file as head of household instead of as single - these two things, together, would save me about $700 on my taxes this year. However, according to the 1040 instructions book I have on hand and some other tax websites I checked, I can’t claim her if she made more than $3200. I realize i’m probably not going to get a definitive answer from a tax lawyer by asking here, but just in case anyone more knowledgeable than me can help me out: Is Turbotax mistaken about my ability to claim her, or is there some nuance to the tax laws regarding dependent parents of which I am unaware? ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/claiming-my-parent-as-a-dependent-is-turbotax-mistaken/338241/2 "2006-01-03T17:27:32Z")
I’ve been looking into a similiar thing myself. I don’t know all the intricacies, but my WAG is that the fact that she lived with you counts as a form of support. I think the rules are that regardless of her income, if you provide more than 50% of her support, you can claim her as a dependent. Providing housing must count for something. ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2006, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/claiming-my-parent-as-a-dependent-is-turbotax-mistaken/338241/3 "2006-01-03T17:46:45Z")
I went to [www.irs.gov](http://www.irs.gov) and looked at the instructions for Form 1040. Based on the way I read the instructions you cannot claim her as a dependent if she made over $3200 **unless** she is permanently and totally disabled, in which case the limit does not apply. Also, you should keep in mind that if you claim her as a dependent on your tax return, she will not be able to claim herself as a dependent when she files her taxes. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2006, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/claiming-my-parent-as-a-dependent-is-turbotax-mistaken/338241/4 "2006-01-04T00:56:18Z")
iI think that whether or not you can claim her as a dependent has nothing to do with your filing as head of household. Recheck that on 1040 instructions. That may be where the conflict is.