Mother as dependent on tax form
Hi Terry,
My mother is 93 years old and living with me since 2011. She is now on hospice. I am the caretaker of her and have been since 2011. She gets my dad’s pension and a little social security about 14,000 a year. I have never claimed her on my taxes as a dependent because I can’ figure it out. How do I claim her. I made just over 50,000 last year.
Appreciate any information you can give.
Terry Says
Well, that’s a shame. Because you missed a lot of deductions over the years! It’s really very simple.
Where it says “dependents’ you simply “claim her” as one dependent, since you contribute more than half her support during the year by providing housing and food and other unpaid care. And if she has been on hospice, you may be able to claim the “Child CARE credit” to help pay for your hospice outlay.
ALSO, did she receive her stimulus payments of $1400 and $600 for last year? They are refundable — so you may be able to claim them on your 2021 tax return, which you are now filing. That would generate a nice refund.
Since there is so much at stake here, I’m going to suggest that you get personal help filing this year’s tax return. You might benefit from one of the many free taxpayer assistance locations of an organization called “Ladder UP”.
Click this link to find a site near you in Northern Illinois: https://www.goladderup.org/locations/
And if you are outside this area, check out this page at IRS.gov to find free resources to help you file this year’s return.
And here is a link to the government’s free tax prep sites: https://irs.treasury.gov/freetaxprep/
Do it now. And please write back and let me know how much money you get in a refund!!!
