A Tax Fact from The Tax Institute at H&R Block

Caring for aging parents, growing children and yourselves can create some sticky tax situations for those of us often referred to as “the sandwich generation.” But what are those bread and (peanut) butter issues that you should know about before tax time?

Dependency exemptions
Sandwiched with support for aging parents and your own growing children, can you claim dependency exemptions for both your parents and your children? The good news is that tax law can grant you dependency exemptions for your parent or child, but, and there’s always a “but,” the rules are slightly different.

Qualifying Child rules: A qualifying child is a child who meets certain age, residency, and relationship rules. If the child is your son or daughter, they will qualify if they are under the age of 19 or 24 (if a full-time student) at the end of the year. The child can’t supply more than 50% of his own support nor can the child be a qualifying child of someone else. Except for temporary absences, such as attending school away from home, the child must live with you for more than half the year. Special rules apply if a child is a qualifying child of more than one person.

Rules for claiming your parent: If you wish to claim your parent as a dependent, there are different rules. First, you must provide more than half the cost of their support. In some cases, especially with a parent, no one person will provide more than half the cost. Instead, two or more people may provide the support – for example you and a brother or sister. But for the support test, each of you may be able to claim the exemption. In such a situation, a Multiple Support Agreement can be signed allowing one of the persons who provided more than 10% of the support to claim the dependency exemption. Form 2120, Multiple Support Agreement, must be attached to the tax return of the person claiming the exemption.  In addition, your parent must not have more than $3,400 of gross income.

Generally, a qualifying child or a parent whom you wish to claim as a dependent, must be a citizen or resident of the United States. A dependent can not file a joint return unless the dependent files with the spouse only to claim a refund of tax withheld. This means that neither spouse would have no requirement to file and no tax liability if they were to file separate tax returns.

Education
Sandwich generation-ers can also find themselves planning or paying education costs that can produce some tax benefits for themselves and their children such as:

• Saving for education through Education Saving Accounts or 529 Saving Plans. Although contributions aren’t deductible. Earnings grow tax-deferred and qualified distributions are not taxable. Your state may offer a tax benefit for contributing to its 529 plan.
• Paying for education for children and yourselves can produce education tax credits. The Hope Scholarship credit is available for students in their first two years of college. The Lifetime Learning credit is available for not only a child in college but for anyone pursuing post-secondary education or courses that improve or acquire job skills.

Health care
You are also allowed to deduct medical expenses for your dependents. If you were unable to claim your parent as a dependent merely because of the gross income test, you can still claim medical expenses that you have paid for their medical care.

Retirement Savings
Don’t forget about yourselves! If you are sandwiched between the needs of the preceding and succeeding generation, be sure you save for your own retirement. Take advantage of your employer’s 401(k) or an Individual Retirement Account to prepare for your own retirement years. Remember, your own retirement will be here sooner than you think.

This Tax Fact is brought to you by The Tax Institute at H&R Block.

To view other helpful tax information or listen to our Tax Fact podcasts, visit www.digits.hrblock.com

As always . . . everyone’s tax situation is different, so be sure to consult a tax professional or financial advisor before making important financial decisions.

This Tax Fact is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute