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Long story short. Found out I had a half brother and he's been staying with me for the past year while going to a nearby community College.

Was doing my taxes and discovered he technically qualifies as an dependent and I can claim head of household status.

However, he has a different last name and is only genetically related but not in a legal sense (i.e. birth certificate doesn't have father's name).

Can I still claim him as a dependent? Will IRS call or ask for additional proof? I can provide evidence in genetic tests but I'm guessing I'm over thinking this unless I'm audited.

Chris W. Rea
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deek
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3 Answers3

24

This appears to be something that is done on the honor system. The biggest check the IRS does is with the social security number. They will make sure that nobody else is claiming your half-brother.

So before you do this you need check a few things:

  • Nobody else is claiming him. It is possible that either parent might also believe they can claim them. If multiple people claim the same person, then the IRS will investigate. It is also possible that if the other people have already filed their forms, then your entire return may be held up while it gets sorted out.
  • Education credits. Make sure that your claiming him doesn't impact how education credits are being allocated.
  • Which leads to the FAFSA. In Some situations the parents income, savings, and debts play a role in the determination of how much aid is available. In other cases it is the only the students situation. By claiming the student on your tax form it is likely that your income, savings, and debts will be added to the mix.
mhoran_psprep
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13

As with most things on your tax return, you are on the honor system until you are audited. If you claim him as a dependent, it will most likely be accepted and no proof will be asked for.

If you are audited, you have evidence.

Ben Miller
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First, you need the brother's SSN. People don't give their SSNs to just anybody.

Second, the brother's own tax forms must agree with your claim: So if you do not have the person's consent, no go. The classic collision (old tax forms) is when a parent claims a child as a dependent to collect the $1000-ish in tax benefits, and the child also claims 1 exemption to collect the $300-ish in tax benefits. The child was typically very strident about collecting that $300, with not a care for the knock-on effects.

Also, pay great heed to Mhoran's point about financial aid.

Harper - Reinstate Monica
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