There have been some rumors floating around for a while about claiming unborn children on taxes. It makes sense that these would gain some traction, as them being true would mean a little weight off of pregnant mothers’ shoulders. Anything with this level of hope and convenience is quick to be believed. Unfortunately, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Can you claim an unborn child on your taxes? No. Claiming dependents can be a little complicated, but this particular instance is pretty cut and dry. Let’s dive into why.
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Dependents Have to be Alive
Just as you can’t claim a dead relative on your taxes, despite any costs you incur from their passing, you can’t claim one that isn’t yet alive. To claim someone on your taxes, you have to be providing them with half of their support, or have them living with you at least half of the time. There are other qualifying factors, but this one is a pretty major one. It would be a huge help to be able to claim someone in situations like these, but unfortunately the dependent has to be alive the year that you are filing for, so it can take a little while before you get any tax credit for being a parent. It isn’t ideal, but it is the way the system works to protect against fraud, as well as false positives.
Tax Relief for Pregnant Women
There are ways to get some tax benefit for being pregnant. Pregnancies come with a lot of medical expenses that can be written off. TurboTax has a great guide on how to write off pregnancy medical expenses, and it can help guide you though the intricacies of making sure you get your maximum benefit.
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Trey LaRocca is a freelance writer, financial sales worker, and tech guy. When he isn’t out and about or at work, he’s usually at home enjoying some video games and a beer. Currently residing in Newport Beach, this California Kid can be found at the beach on any given weekend. Trey has years of experience in day/swing trading, financial analytics, and sales.
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