As per TurboTax, an eligible dependant varies based on the credit or deduction you want to claim. Many different people can qualify as dependants, and someone who qualifies as a dependant for the purposes of one credit may not qualify for another dependant credit.
In regards to the Eligible Dependant Credit, TurboTax states that in some cases, even if you meet the criteria for claiming the eligible dependant claim, you are still not allowed to make the claim. In particular,
- Only “one person per household” is allowed to make this claim, regardless of the number of dependants in the house.
- If someone else (usually the other parent) is claiming an amount on Line 30400 of their return for this dependent, you cannot make a claim for that same dependant. For example, if you and your dad can both claim the amount for your younger sibling, you must agree on who will claim the amount. If you cannot agree, neither of you can claim the Amount for an Eligible Dependant for that child.
Another thing to keep in mind is that you can only make this claim for one dependant.
To learn more about some common dependant tax credits, please read through this TurboTax article: Who are Considered Dependants?
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