Can my mom (new resident) claim herself under exemptions on tax return?

[WorldTravelers 5]

This year would be the first time my mom would file her taxes, so this is all new to us.

She is a resident since Dec 2013. She doesn't have any income (just some bank interest), so she doesn't HAVE to file. But, she is filing so that she has a proof of US residency when it comes the time to apply for citizenship, and as a proof of income for the healhcare tax credit (premium subsidies) - which she received for this year.
She lives with me, but I am NOT claiming her as a dependent on my tax return. She doesn't pay me rent or any other expenses.

Can she claim herself under exemptions on tax return? The tax form says NOT to check the box next to Yourself "if someone can claim you as a dependent".

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

This year would be the first time my mom would file her taxes, so this is all new to us.

She is a resident since Dec 2013. She doesn't have any income (just some bank interest), so she doesn't HAVE to file. But, she is filing so that she has a proof of US residency when it comes the time to apply for citizenship, and as a proof of income for the healhcare tax credit (premium subsidies) - which she received for this year.

She lives with me, but I am NOT claiming her as a dependent on my tax return. She doesn't pay me rent or any other expenses.

Can she claim herself under exemptions on tax return? The tax form says NOT to check the box next to Yourself "if someone can claim you as a dependent".

If she was claimed on your tax return as your dependent, then she couldn't double dip and claim an exemption on her return as well. Two separate taxpayers can't claim the same person. But she isn't on your return so yes she does get her own personal exemption and standard deduction.

[WorldTravelers 5]

she isn't on your return so yes she does get her own personal exemption and standard deduction.

Thanks for your response.

I was not clear on that because it says "if someone CAN claim you" to not check the box for yourself.

The instructions on determining if one can be claimed were not clear to me either. She lives at the same address, but I would paying the same bills even if she was't here. Sure, I pay for the extra food, but she doesn't have any fixed expenses I could show I am paying for HER. Which of course I do cover her expenses because I sponsored her to come here.

She is filing with that "Yourself" exemption checked, income/tax/return $0, so hopefully it won't trigger an audit.

Edited February 22, 2015 by WorldTravelers

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

Thanks for your response.

I was not clear on that because it says "if someone CAN claim you" to not check the box for yourself.

The instructions on determining if one can be claimed were not clear to me either. She lives at the same address, but I would paying the same bills even if she was't here. Sure, I pay for the extra food, but she doesn't have any fixed expenses I could show I am paying for HER. Which of course I do cover her expenses because I sponsored her to come here.

She is filing with that "Yourself" exemption checked, income/tax/return $0, so hopefully it won't trigger an audit.

It takes a lot more than that to trigger an audit.

Read what the IRS says as far as counting her as your dependent. Or read a more reader friendly blog by somebody like TurboTax https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/tax-tips/Family/Steps-to-Claiming-an-Elderly-Parent-as-a-Dependent/INF19455.html