Qualifying Person

For the tax credit for child and dependent care expenses, a qualifying person is a child, dependent, or spouse who meets specific requirements. The taxpayer must furnish more than half the cost of maintaining a home that is also the home of the qualifying person. A qualifying child must be under age 13; the taxpayer must claim a dependency exemption for the child. (There is an exception for children of divorced or separated parents.) A qualifying dependent, or a person who could be claimed as a dependent if his or her gross income was less than the exemption amount, must be physically or mentally incapable of self-care. A qualifying spouse must be physically or mentally incapable of self-care.

Source: Internal Revenue Service

Last reviewed October 2023