Dependency Exemption for Qualified Relative

I have one for which I cannot quickly find an answer and I'm hoping the learned pros here can point me in the right directly.

I have a client who's 22 year old daughter took a year off from school for all of 2010 and went to the Congo as a missionary. She lived with him before she left and she returned to his home when she came back and has re-enrolled in college and is again a full time student. She was a full time student in 2009 as well.

The rules for a qualifying CHILD allow for temporary absences, like military service, vacations, away at school, and such. But I cannot find anything that addresses temporary absences for a qualifying RELATIVE.

I also cannot find anything that indicates that an absence for religious reasons, missionary work, qualifies.

To be clear - the daughter will NOT be a qualifying child for 2010, but may be a qualifying relative IF a temporary absence for missionary work is allowed. He sent her money while she was away and he maintained the home she lived in before she left and to which she returned.

Thoughts? Gene E. Utterback, EA, RFC, ABA

Reply to
Gene E. Utterback, EA, ABA
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Your child does not have to live with you to be a qualifying relative. You child meets the relationship test of a QR. A unrelated person has to live with you for all 12 months to meet the QR test.

A qualifying child has to live with you for more than 6 months. That's why there is a rule for temporary absences.

Reply to
Alan

As Alan already noted, a child doesn't have to live with you to be a qualifying relative dependent.

Is filing status an issue? For Head of Household you must maintain a home for a qualifying PERSON for more than half the year. Except for a parent, this person must live with you except for temporary absences.

AFAIK there's no time limit on temporary absences, so I'd say she's a qualifying person for HofH filing status for 2010.

Phil Marti VITA/TCE Volunteer Clearksburg, MD

Reply to
Phil Marti

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