Q: What is a dependent? A: A dependent, for tax filing purposes, is a child or adult who relies on a taxpayer for his/her support.The dependent does not necessarily have to live with the taxpayer in the same home. The two primary categories for a dependent are qualifying child and qualifying relative. Q: What are the qualifications of a dependent? A: Any person claimed as a dependent must be either a US citizen (born in the US), a US national (a legal immigrant who is not yet a US citizen), or a resident of the US, Canada or Mexico. A dependent can be either a qualifying child or a qualifying relative. A couple who files their tax return as married filing joint cannot claim each other as dependents. They are both equal taxpayers.Q: What is the difference between a qualifying child and a qualifying relative? A: A "qualifying child" must be the taxpayer's son or daughter, stepchild, foster child, sibling, stepsibling, or a grandchild, niece or nephew. The qualifying child must have lived with the taxpayer for more than half the calendar year. The child must be under age 19 at the end of the year, or under age 24 and attending school full time for at least five months of the year, or any age (adult or child) and permanently and totally disabled. The child cannot have provided more than half of his/her own support during the year. A "qualifying relative" must be, in addition to the categories for the qualifying child, can also be the taxpayer's parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle, in-law, stepparent, stepsibling, or any other person (other than a spouse) who lived with the taxpayer all year as a member of the taxpayer's household. The qualifying relative must not be a qualifying child of any other person, and must have gross (before taxes withheld) of less than $3400. The taxpayer must have provided over half of the relative's support. The issue of "qualifying child" and "qualifying relative" applies to the following tax breaks: EITC, Child tax credit, and child/dependent care credit. An unmarried taxpayer with a qualifying child or relative may be able to file as head of household.Q: I am a "single parent" and I live with my mother and my children. Can my mother claim one of my children as a dependent? A: It depends on the particular home situation. I would need to know who pays over half the cost of the home. Q: How do I find out when I am getting my federal refund? A: You can go on to the Internal Revenue Service web site (irs.gov) and click on the "Where's my refund?" link.Q: How can I adjust my withholdings to avoid owing taxes in the next year? A: Go to your employer and complete a W-4. If you receive a pension or annuity income, you can complete a W-4P to adjust withholdings also.