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Can I Claim a Boyfriend/Girlfriend as a Dependent on Income Taxes?

Can I Claim a Boyfriend/Girlfriend as a Dependent on Income Taxes?

Updated for Tax Year 2021 / October 16, 2021 08:35 AM

OVERVIEW

You can claim a boyfriend or girlfriend as a dependent on your federal income taxes if that person meets the IRS definition of a "qualifying relative."

A couple enjoying the sunshine and landscape on a hike.
You can claim a boyfriend or girlfriend as a dependent on your federal income taxes if that person meets the Internal Revenue Service's definition of a "qualifying relative."

Don't get tripped up by the word "relative" here—according to the IRS, it can include an unrelated person who passes the four following tests concerning:

Residency
Income
Support
Status

Is your partner an official resident?

Your partner must be a member of your household, meaning that they lived with you for the entire calendar year.

The law makes exceptions for temporary absences, such as vacations and medical treatment, but your home must have been that person's official residence for the full year.

However, if your living situation violates local law, you cannot claim that individual as a dependent. In some states, "cohabitation" by unmarried people is against the law.

How much does your partner earn?

If your partner has gross income above a certain amount, you cannot claim that person as a dependent.

Gross income is any income from any source that's subject to tax, whether it's wages, interest on a bank account or other types of taxable income.
The limit for gross income limit varies from year to year.
For the 2021 tax year, the income limit is $4,300.

Also, you cannot generally claim a married person as a dependent if they file a joint return with their spouse.

How much money do you spend on your partner?

You must have paid more than half of your partner's living expenses during the calendar year for which you want to claim that person as a dependent.

When calculating the total amount of support, you must include money received from:

You and other people
The individual's own funds

In other words, if your partner took money from a savings account to pay for food, housing or other living expenses, and the total amount withdrawn is more than half of the person's living expenses, you cannot claim that individual as a dependent.

Are you the only person claiming your partner as a dependent?

If your partner is already being claimed as a dependent by another person, you can't also claim them as a dependent. Only one person (or tax return, in the case of married couples filing jointly) may claim a specific tax dependent in any given tax year. Also, you cannot generally claim a married person as a dependent if they file a joint return with their spouse.

Online help

The IRS website offers an online "assistant" that can help you determine whether your boyfriend or girlfriend qualifies as a dependent.

Of course, if you prepare your taxes with TurboTax, we'll ask simple questions about your living situation, and tell you exactly who can and cannot be claimed as your dependent.

Remember, with TurboTax, we'll ask you simple questions about your life and help you fill out all the right tax forms. With TurboTax you can be confident your taxes are done right, from simple to complex tax returns, no matter what your situation.

All you need to know is yourself

Just answer simple questions about your life, and TurboTax Free Edition will take care of the rest.

For Simple Tax Returns Only

The above article is intended to provide generalized financial information designed to educate a broad segment of the public; it does not give personalized tax, investment, legal, or other business and professional advice. Before taking any action, you should always seek the assistance of a professional who knows your particular situation for advice on taxes, your investments, the law, or any other business and professional matters that affect you and/or your business.