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How Do Life Changes Alter your Tax Scenario?
Changes in your personal life are bound to occur, and when change happens, their may be tax consequences. Many Life altering occurrences can happen within a given tax year. You may elect to go to college, you could adopt a child, you may have become an entrepreneur and started a corporation or small business, it may be time to send a child to college. Did you change jobs midyear, sell or purchase a home, put money into a retirement plan, take a withdrawal from a retirement plan, or you maybe you married the love of your life? We are here to help you with your taxes through all your annual life-changing events. At Tax Master DFW, we understand your life scenario is always changing; your plans may alter and your finances may experience seasons of prosperity and seasons of Storm. Let us help you with tax implications of your ever changing life.
Children
Topic 602 - Child and Dependent Care Credit
First off, if the child is born on December 31 the child is considered to have lived the entire tax year. You may be able to claim the child and dependent care credit if you paid work-related expenses for the care of a qualifying individual. The credit is generally a percentage of the amount of work-related expenses you paid to a care provider for the care of a qualifying individual. The percentage depends on your adjusted gross income. Work-related expenses qualifying for the credit are those paid for the care of a qualifying individual to enable you to work or actively look for work.
Expenses are paid for the care of a qualifying individual if the primary function is to assure the individual's well-being and protection. In general, amounts paid for services outside your household qualify for the credit if the care is provided for (i) a qualifying individual who is your qualifying child under age 13 or (ii) a qualifying individual who regularly spends at least 8 hours each day in your household.
The total expenses that may be used to calculate the credit are capped at $3,000 (for one qualifying individual) or at $6,000 (for two or more qualifying individuals). The dollar limits may differ depending on the tax year in question. The expenses qualifying for the computation of the credit must be reduced by the amount of any dependent care benefits provided by your employer that you exclude from gross income. In general, you can exclude up to $5,000 for dependent care benefits received from your employer. Also, generally, the expenses claimed may not exceed the lesser of your earned income or your spouse’s earned income. A special rule applies if your spouse is a full-time student or incapable of self-care. For additional information, refer to Publication 503, Child and Dependent Care Expenses.
For purposes of the child and dependent care credit, a qualifying individual is:
◦
Your dependent qualifying child who is under age 13 when the care is provided,
Your dependent qualifying child who is under age 13 when the care is provided,◦Your spouse who is physically or mentally incapable of self-care and who has the same principal place of abode as you for more than half of the year, or
Your spouse who is physically or mentally incapable of self-care and who has the same principal place of abode as you for more than half of the year, or◦Your dependent who is physically or mentally incapable of self-care, and who has the same principal place of abode as you for more than half of the year. For this purpose, whether an individual is your dependent is determined without regard to the individual's gross income, whether the individual files a joint return, or whether you are a dependent of another taxpayer.
Your dependent who is physically or mentally incapable of self-care, and who has the same principal place of abode as you for more than half of the year. For this purpose, whether an individual is your dependent is determined without regard to the individual's gross income, whether the individual files a joint return, or whether you are a dependent of another taxpayer.An individual is physically or mentally incapable of self-care if, as a result of a physical or mental defect, the individual is incapable of caring for his or her hygiene or nutritional needs, or requires the full-time attention of another person for the individual's own safety or the safety of others.
For more information on who is a dependent or a qualifying child, refer to Publication 501, Exemptions, Standard Deduction, and Filing Information.
A noncustodial parent may not treat a child as a qualifying individual for purposes of the credit, even if the noncustodial parent may claim an exemption for the child. For more information on divorced or separated parents or parents who live apart at all times during the last six months of the year, refer to the topic Child of Divorced or Separated Parents or Parents Living Apart in Publication 503, Child and Dependent Care Expenses.
If a person is a qualifying individual for only a part of the tax year, only those expenses paid during that part of the year are included in calculating the credit.
In addition to paying for the care of a qualifying individual, you must meet all of the following conditions to claim the credit:
◦Your payment must be made to a care provider who is not your spouse, the parent of your child who is your qualifying individual, your child under age 19, or a dependent of you or your spouse.
Your payment must be made to a care provider who is not your spouse, the parent of your child who is your qualifying individual, your child under age 19, or a dependent of you or your spouse.◦You must file a joint return if you are married.
You must file a joint return if you are married.◦You must provide the taxpayer identification number (usually the social security number) of each qualifying individual on the return on which you claim the credit.
You must provide the taxpayer identification number (usually the social security number) of each qualifying individual on the return on which you claim the credit.◦You must report the name, address, and taxpayer identification number (either the social security number, or the employer identification number) of the care provider on your return. If the care provider is a tax-exempt organization, you need only report the name and address on your return. You can use Form W-10 (PDF), Dependent Care Provider's Identification and Certification, to request this information from the care provider. If you do not provide information regarding the care provider, you may still be eligible for the credit if you can show that you exercised due diligence in attempting to provide the required information.
You must report the name, address, and taxpayer identification number (either the social security number, or the employer identification number) of the care provider on your return. If the care provider is a tax-exempt organization, you need only report the name and address on your return. You can use Form W-10 (PDF), Dependent Care Provider's Identification and Certification, to request this information from the care provider. If you do not provide information regarding the care provider, you may still be eligible for the credit if you can show that you exercised due diligence in attempting to provide the required information.If you qualify for the credit, complete Form 2441 (PDF) and Form 1040 (PDF)
The info above is from the IRS - http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc602.html