Filing Taxes any Advice

Eiamu

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Feb 6, 2012
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I am new in this forum which, I believe, contains a wealth of information. Thus, I like to ask a tax return question. Does anyone know an appropriate way of handing midshipman's income tax return? It appears that I am getting no information form my DS who is a plebe. Can I claim my DS as a dependent in my return? Can we write off DS educational expenses, if we can, what would that be?
 
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This one is simple. You claim DS plebe year. After that USNA has people to provide tax filing assist.Your son has received his W 2. Only unreimbursed expenses you incur may be claimed, i.e few and none.
 
Just don't try to get too creative with his after July 1 needs; he also will be filing a 1040.
 
Just don't try to get too creative with his after July 1 needs; he also will be filing a 1040.
The IRS's acid test is who provided the majority of the support. Remember, that for half the year, that USNA provided room and board, education, and a substantial salary. My contention is that it would be very hard for a parent to prove 51% support.

With the modern computer age, both cannot file. Whoever files first makes it into the system. If the mid files first, which he will, with all the rumors circulating Bancroft about instant wealth from their income tax return, the IRS will not accept the parents return with the mid listed as a dependant. Conversly, if the parents file first, the IRS will not accept the midn's return.
 
The IRS's acid test is who provided the majority of the support. Remember, that for half the year, that USNA provided room and board, education, and a substantial salary. My contention is that it would be very hard for a parent to prove 51% support.

With the modern computer age, both cannot file. Whoever files first makes it into the system. If the mid files first, which he will, with all the rumors circulating Bancroft about instant wealth from their income tax return, the IRS will not accept the parents return with the mid listed as a dependant. Conversly, if the parents file first, the IRS will not accept the midn's return.

We're actually advised to check with our parents and see if they want to claim us as dependents because they will most likely get more money for that than we would in returns. At least in my company.
 
With the modern computer age, both cannot file.
Both can file. It is no different than a dependent filing a return on earned income or interest income when attending a civilian school. The test is the % of support that you are providing. Look at the fist 6 months of the year; room, bored, tuition if at a private school, health insurance, other fees ... it adds up. In my case I can easily meet the 51% test, but it is on a case by case basis. It is the same situation that parents of a college senior face. Per the IRS guidelines, if they were in school 5 months of the year, you can claim them as a dependent if you provided 51% of the support.
 
I recommend parents consult their tax advisor, if they have one, to determine the proper course of action. Not only what is legally correct but, if there is legally a choice, what makes the most sense financially.

The situation may well be different for differently situated people.
 
Again, for those going to USNA from home or other circumstances in which parents have been supporting the Mid, they may legally claim the Mid as a deduction. Said several oeher ways, 1. Attending USNA as a plebe does NOT alter status of who claims the Mid on that year's return. 2. Conversely no Mid may be legally claimed in ensuing years. Indeed ask your tax advisor. For most this will be pioneer, frontier tax country, i.e. you will know more than the advisor, especially AFTER that first semester year.

Of course the Mid must file his her own return
 
IRS Publication 501, page 10 lists all the rules for claiming someone as your dependent. Among other things, three of the rules that are pertinent here: the dependent must reside with you for at least half of the year, they must meet the age requirement, AND you must have provided at least half of their support for the year.

I suggest that the best advice is to check with a pro tax advisor.

WP is absolutely correct that no Mid can be claimed by anyone else after Plebe year.
 
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 IRS Publication 501, page 10 lists all the rules for claiming someone as your dependent. Among other things, three of the rules that are pertinent here: the dependent must reside with you for at least half of the year, they must meet the age requirement, AND you must have provided at least half of their support for the year.

I think I can meet the above requirements. However I have a question

I claimed my DS as a dependent in my tax return, now I try to help him to file his income tax return, however his W2 does not list the tax payer address. What is the address should I use to file his income tax ? I can not use my home address since he was not living there at Dec 31/2011.
 
HTML:
 IRS Publication 501, page 10 lists all the rules for claiming someone as your dependent. Among other things, three of the rules that are pertinent here: the dependent must reside with you for at least half of the year, they must meet the age requirement, AND you must have provided at least half of their support for the year.

I think I can meet the above requirements. However I have a question

I claimed my DS as a dependent in my tax return, now I try to help him to file his income tax return, however his W2 does not list the tax payer address. What is the address should I use to file his income tax ? I can not use my home address since he was not living there at Dec 31/2011.

I believe if you declare him as a dependant you can use your home address just like the parents of a "normal" college student does.
 
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