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samirault · Jun 18, 2013, 09:47 AM

My daughter, son in law, and their child lived with me for 6 months. They paid 1/2 the rent and provided their own food. I paid the other 1/2 of the rent, paid the gas bill, and paid 4 months of the electric. Can I claim my grandchild as a dependent based on this? They had their own phone, transportation and medical. They paid only 1/2 the rent because it was a 2 bedroom place and I had the bigger room. But since I paid other utilities, I believe that puts me at providing more than 1/2 the support for 1/2 of the year and should allow me to claim the child

smoothy · Jun 18, 2013, 09:50 AM

They are the parents... you are going to be hard pressed to justify a deduction if they claim it first. Unless you come to some agreement with them. And its going to take more than what you presented to justify it in a battle of who gets to claim what.

And you can't both claim the deduction.

AtlantaTaxExpert · Jun 18, 2013, 10:10 AM

Smoothy is right, though you may be able to claim Head of Household based on providing a place for your grandchild to live for six months.

samirault · Jun 18, 2013, 10:49 AM

Can I do this even though they paid their portion of the rent? My daughter insists that since they paid their rent, that was THEM providing housing... I just figured since I paid utilities that I provided more support than they did

smoothy · Jun 18, 2013, 10:53 AM

You want trouble with the IRS?. When they prove they are the children's parents... and someone else was trying to take the deduction... you might find yourself on the receiving end of an audit... and if they find an error... that audit migh include several more years... as well as penalties and interest if owed.

ebaines · Jun 18, 2013, 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by samirault

Can I do this even though they paid their portion of the rent?

If you're asking about filing as HoH, then as ATE has already pointed out: yes - if you are single you can do this because (a) you paid for more than half the upkeep of the home and (b) a qualifying grandchild lived with you (even though you can't claim the child as your dependent).

Originally Posted by Wozza

My daughter insists that since they paid their rent, that was THEM providing housing...I just figured since I paid utilities that I provided more support than they did

Your daughter and son-in-law will claim the child as their dependent, because they paid for not only a significant portion of rent but also food, and though you don't mention it I assume they also provided other support for the child such as clothing, doctor's visits, school supplies, provided transportation, etc. You can always talk this over with them and perhaps reach a mutual agreement as to who benefits more from the deduction, but if they claim the child as their dependent as the custodial parents it trumps your ability to do so.