Definition of a Dependent
Who is a dependent?
To qualify as a dependent for tax purposes, an individual must either qualify as a "qualifying child" or "qualifying relative."
In order for an individual to be considered a "qualifying child" an individual must:
- Be a “child” of the taxpayer (son, daughter, grandchild, niece, nephew, brother, sister);
- Not provide over half of his/her own support;
- For the Health Care FSA, be under the age of 19 (or 24 if a full-time student);
- For the Dependent Care FSA, be under the age of 13 unless permanently and totally disabled; and
- Have the same principal residence as the taxpayer for more than half of the year (temporary absences due to illness, education, business, vacation, or military service do not disqualify the child).
In order for an individual to be considered a “qualifying relative,” he or she must:
- Be a blood relative or share the same primary residence with the taxpayer if not a blood relative.
- Receive over half of his/her support from the taxpayer;
- Be a U.S. citizen or national or a resident of the United States, Canada or Mexico.
For the Dependent Care FSA only, not have income equal to or in excess of the Federal exemption amount for that tax year and cannot be claimed as a “qualifying child” by any other taxpayer.
Note: There is still an exception for health expenses incurred for a child of divorced parents. As long as one parent can claim the child as a dependent, the healthcare expenses incurred by the participant qualify under the Healthcare FSA, regardless of residency.
Please see your employer’s Summary Plan Description (SPD) for more specific information regarding your plan.