Christian Posted January 16, 2023 Report Share Posted January 16, 2023 A couple I have assisted for many years has contributed over half the support for two grandchildren who live with their mother at another location. She signs over the dependency status to them each year and they get the $500 per child credit for other dependents. The husband died in August 2021 and the filing in 2022 was their final mfj return. I planned on filing her as hoh this year only to read that the grandchildren must reside in her home for over six months to claim this status. Noting that if the dependent was one of her parents not living with her for which she supplied over half the support she would qualify as hoh. Am I reading this correctly or is their an available exception for grandchildren for which a grandmother provides over half their support ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gail in Virginia Posted January 16, 2023 Report Share Posted January 16, 2023 Not for head of household. You are reading correctly. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lion EA Posted January 16, 2023 Report Share Posted January 16, 2023 Let the mother claim her children for any available credits. If mother gets a refund, she can repay grandmother. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcb39 Posted January 16, 2023 Report Share Posted January 16, 2023 18 minutes ago, Lion EA said: Let the mother claim her children for any available credits. If mother gets a refund, she can repay grandmother. What if the mother doesn't have any income? Then he should just go ahead and claim them, but as S instead of HOH. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted January 17, 2023 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2023 Aye there's the rub. The mother has no income or so I am told. I was hoping to save some of the standard deduction she and her husband both of whom are over 65 had by using the HOH status. Well with single she will at least retain the credits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sara EA Posted January 18, 2023 Report Share Posted January 18, 2023 Since the daughter had no income, did parents support her too? If so, she can also be a qualifying relative who doesn't have to live with the taxpayer. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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