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Pub. 501, Exemptions, Standard Deduction, and Filing Information 2004 Tax Year

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Figure A. Can You Claim an Exemption for a Dependent? Summary: This flowchart is used to determine if a taxpayer can claim an exemption for a dependent.Start. This is the starting of the flowchart.Decision (1). Was the person either a member of your household for the entire tax year or related to you? (See Member of Household or Relationship Test.)

IF Yes Continue To Decision (2)
IF No Continue To Process (a)

Decision (2). Was the person a United States citizen or resident, or a resident of Canada or Mexico, for any part of the tax year?Footnote 1: If the person was your legally adopted child and lived in your home as a member of your household for the entire tax year, answer yes to this question.

IF Yes Continue To Decision (3)
IF No Continue To Process (a)

Decision (3). Did the person file a joint return for the year?Footnote 2: If neither the person nor the person's spouse is required to file a return, but they file a joint return only to claim a refund of tax withheld, answer no to this question.

IF Yes Continue To Process (a)
IF No Continue To Decision (4)

Decision (4). Did you provide more than half the person's total support for the year? (If you are a divorced or separated parent of the person, see Support Test for Child of Divorced or Separated Parents.)Footnote 3: Answer yes to this question if you meet the multiple support requirements under Multiple Support Agreement.

IF Yes Continue To Decision (5)
IF No Continue To Process (a)

Process (a). You cannot claim an exemption for this person.

Continue To End

Decision (5). Did the person have gross income of $3,100 or more during the tax year?Footnote 4: Gross income for this purpose does not include income received by a permanently disabled individual at a sheltered workshop. (See Disabled dependents.)

IF Yes Continue To Decision (6)
IF No Continue To Process (b)

Decision (6). Was the person your child?

IF Yes Continue To Decision (7)
IF No Continue To Process (a)

Decision (7). Was your child under 19 at the end of the year?

IF Yes Continue To Process (b)
IF No Continue To Decision (8)

Decision (8). Was your child under 24 at the end of the year and a full-time student for some part of each of five months during the year? (See Student under age 24.)

IF Yes Continue To Process (b)
IF No Continue To Process (a)

Process (b). You can claim an exemption for this person.Footnote 5: If your adjusted gross income is more the $107,025, see Table 6, Deduction for Exemption Worksheet.

Continue To End

End. This is the ending of the flowchart.

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