HI,

This is my first post.

My mother-in-law lived with us for more than half a year last year. She is not a US citizen. Can I claim her as a dependent based on her +6 month residency?

If so, how is this done on the 1040 when the SS# is asked?

Thanks!

Just living with you is not enough to claim dependency. You have to have provided more than half her support for the year.

What Scott says is true, but more important is the need for her to apply for an Individual Tax Identification Number, a process that is hard when the person is here in the United States.

When they are located overseas, it is doubly complicated.

Does she live in a big city in the home country?