"Supporting Family in México Yields U.S. Tax Savings" -Extra News
Escrito por Extra News | 24 marzo 2010
Providing financial assistance to relatives in a different country is something many people do. For the millions of Mexican-Americans sending money to family in México, this could yield tax breaks in the U.S.
Taxpayers must claim the people being supported as dependents to be eligible for the $3,650 dependent exemption. Generally, a dependent must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. resident alien, U.S. national, or a resident of Canada or México. Exceptions are made for certain adopted children.
Eligible expenses that may be claimed include: food, lodging, clothing, education, medical and dental care, recreation and transportation. All qualified expenses must be verified with the appropriate receipts and documentation.
To claim dependents in México, taxpayer must provide more than 50 percent of the dependent’s eligible living expenses.
The dependent must be a:
• Child, stepchild, foster child or their descendant
• Sibling, stepsibling or half sibling
• Parent, grandparent or their direct ancestor
• Stepfather or stepmother
• Niece, nephew, aunt or uncle
• Son-in-law,daughter-in-law, father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law
• The dependent’s gross income from U.S. sources may not exceed $3,650 for 2009, unless disabled
• A dependent must not file a joint return for the year unless to claim a refund of taxes withheld.
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