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I have supported my parent for most of the year and paid for everything. Housing/food/transportation and other things. So I want to claim them on my taxes.

My concern is this:

They have a large amount of medical debt and I want to know if I would be liable for their debt if I claimed them on my taxes.

Update:

For some added context the person in question was homeless and I provided a place for them to stay. I have not signed anything that would make me responsible for this person debt directly. I am not a cosigner on any documents. I am also not the "Legal" guardian of this person. Though I do have some power of attorney due to their speech being affect by multiple strokes I am able to speak with medical professionals on their behalf if they are unable to.

My only concern in this question is this:

Can just the act of claiming someone on your taxes somehow allow medical bills to become your responsibility?

Mike - SMT
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1 Answers1

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I am not a lawyer.

The issue revolves around answering a series of questions: Have you signed anything that assigns financial responsibility to you regarding their debts? Due to a disability they have, are you a guardian of your parents? Do you have power-of-attorney?

For medical debt are you listed as the responsible party for their health coverage? Did the medical bills get charged to a credit card that you are an authorized user?

For non-medical debt such as a car loan, are you a cosigner?

Short of this sort of assignment, your parents are responsible for their own debts, even if they rely on you for financial support.

mhoran_psprep
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