Can I claim my brother as a dependent if he lives with me? He 's a student anddoes not pay the rent etc. he us unemployed. Also, if I can claim him as a dependent, does he have to file his taxes separately? He is an adult, not a mino. Please let me know. Thanks for your help.

If he lived with you for all of 2012, and if his income is less than $3800, and if you provided at least half his upkeep (i.e. you paid for at least half his food, clothes, school expenses, transportation etc), and if no one else (such as your parents) can claim him as a "qualifying child," then yes, you may be able to use filing status of Head of Household and claim your brother as a "qualifying relative" dependent. This assumes that your parents do not provide significant financial support for your brother - if they do then they may be able to claim him as a qualifying child.

In either case if someone claims your brother as a dependent he may still file his own return, but he should check the box that indicates that someone else is claiming him as a dependent.

This assumes that your brother is a U.S. citizen or resident and not an international student on a F-1 visa.