Common questions about entering dependents in ProConnect Tax

How do I indicate the taxpayer was claimed by someone else?

1. Go to Input Return ⮕ General ⮕ Client Information
2. Select Taxpayer Information.
3. In Dependency Status:
   • Select Taxpayer could be dependent if the taxpayer can be claimed as a dependent on another person's tax return but is not listed as a dependent in the Exemptions section on another person’s tax return. OR
   • Select Taxpayer claimed as dependent if the taxpayer is claimed as a dependent on another person’s tax return (i.e. listed as a dependent in the Exemptions section on another person’s tax return).

Note: Either selection disallows the taxpayer's personal and dependent's exemptions on Form 1040 and limits the standard deduction according to the Standard Deduction Worksheet in the Form 1040 instructions. Selecting Taxpayer claimed as dependent also disallows the education credits, student loan interest deduction, and retirement savings contributions credit.

Requirements for claiming a qualifying relative as a dependent:

There are four tests that must be met for a person to be your qualifying relative:

1. The person can't be your qualifying child or the qualifying child of any other taxpayer.
   • There are exceptions for temporary absences, children who were born or died during the year, children of divorced or separated parents (or parents who live apart), and kidnapped children.
2. The person either (a) must be related to you in one of the ways listed under relatives who don't have to live with you, or (b) must live with you all year as a member of your household (and your relationship must not violate local law).
3. The person's gross income for the year must be less than $4,050.
   • There's an exception if the person is disabled and has income from a sheltered workshop.
4. You must provide more than half of the person's total support for the year.
   • There are exceptions for multiple support agreements, children of divorced or separated parents (or parents who live apart), and kidnapped children.

For additional information, refer to IRS Pub. 17.

Troubleshooting diagnostic ref. 45608 in ProConnect Tax - Dependent excluded from child tax credit due to invalid SSN

When working on an Individual return, you may encounter the following diagnostic:

• Dependent #: Doesn't qualify for the Child Tax Credit and/or Additional Child Tax Credit because the child doesn't have a valid SSN. However, dependents with ITINs or ATINs qualify for the $500 credit for other dependents. (ref. #45608)
  • This diagnostic exists for tax year 2018 and later.
• Dependent #: Wasn't included in the Child Tax Credit and/or Additional Child Tax Credit computation because the child doesn't have a valid SSN, ITIN, or ATIN (ref. #45608)
  • This diagnostic exists for tax year 2015 through 2017.

This diagnostic is triggered when a qualifying dependent has been excluded from the Child Tax Credit calculation due to a missing or invalid SSN, or when a valid ITIN, or ATIN is present and they qualify for the $500 credit for other dependents instead.

Follow these steps to clear the diagnostic if a valid SSN should be present:

1. Go to Input Return ⮕ General ⮕ Dependents.
2. Enter a valid SSN, ATIN, or ITIN in the Social Security # field.
   • For tax year 2015-2017: If entering an ITIN, make sure to select the correct corresponding response in the field for Dependent with ITIN (for CTC).

If a valid ITIN or ATIN has been entered, this diagnostic is informational to make sure you've noticed the change in treatment. In this situation, the diagnostic won't clear and can be ignored.