claiming baby for taxes

how old do they have to be? i was told by one tax place it was as long as they were born that year and he was born dec 23rd. but not im having another person from a different tax place tell me they have to be at least 6 months old before you can claim them =/ im still waiting on his ss card and birth certificate to even come in.

Its the year they are born.

You can claim any baby born before January 1. There is a stipulation saying a child must live with you for six months out of the year for you to claim it, but your baby lived in you. Still counts to the irs

They can be born at 11:59 pm on New Year's Eve and be claimed, so whatever tax place was telling you the 6-month thing is on crack.

I always thought it was if they were born on or before Dec. 31st of that year, I've never heard the 6 month thing before.

Even if they were born December 31, 2012, you could claim them for 2012, because they were born during 2012.

You will need his social security number, and possibly documents proving he lived with you, depending on the tax place. The IRS is getting very particular and requiring preparers to do more to prove eligibilty for Earned Income Credit, so depending on the place, they may require more documents than in previous years.

Born by December 31st you can claim them. My son was born the 21st of december and I claimed him.

Im guessing the place that said 6 months was meaning to claim a child (of any age) you have to prove you were the primary person to support them for at least 6 months out of the year. Pregnancy counts so you supported them for the 9 months you were pregnant. HTH

Jade was born december 28th, we claimed her when we did our taxes the next month.

All we needed was her social...

If he was born any time in 2012 you can claim him. You will need hiss ssn and possibly proof that he lives with you.

My son was born the 30th of december of 09. We claimed him. Go to a difderent place because if they are screwing up with that then who knows what else they will screw up.

i think it depends state to state... in massachusetts they dont have to be 6 months just born before the first but i heard someone else say their baby was born on dec 29 or something and they couldnt

Quoting Krystie321:" i think it depends state to state... in massachusetts they dont have to be 6 months just born before the first but i heard someone else say their baby was born on dec 29 or something and they couldnt"

its federal not state

As long as the child was born 2012 you can claim them. The lady that does my taxes also wanted proof of residency just in case I get audited.