SAHMs - What's your tax status?

[newmamalizzy]

This may be better filed under Frugality and Finances, but this question is to SAHMs that are not married to their working, live-in partner: How do you view your family finances? Do/can you file as a dependent of your partner, or as a single person with no income? How has this affected your eligibility for state services, health insurance, etc.?

[sanguine_speed]

In Canada, one can choose to claim "common-law" status after a certian amount of time cohabiting (1 year I think?), or not. However, if you live with someone who is the natural parent of your children, you must declare as common-law. In Canada, common-law basically treats you the same as married in all respects except property rights, and property rights are covered under the "principle of unjust enrichment". So, everything is essentially the same as married.

[greenemami]

I filed as a dependant this year. I don't know if this matters or not (I am pretty clueless about taxes), but he is self-employed, so taxes might work a little differently.

All state assistance that I have looked into (Medicaid, WIC, etc) looks at household income regardless of whether you are married or not.

[L J]

Subbing to this, because I have been curious on how we will file our 2011 taxes. I worked all of 2010 (and still am, part time) but I'll quit in a month when the baby is born. We'll just file separately this year, but I have no clue what to do next year.

[TnMsMama]

I worked 2 months in 2009 so for that year we filed sperately, he claimed both kids (even tho DS isn't his) and he got a huge chunk back and i got 90 bucks LOL. 2010 I haven't worked at all, and I won't, so I'm really not sure.

I did find out that even tho he's supported my DS 100% for the past year, technically he can't claim him unless we're married. I added it to my list of reasons he should stop fighting me about getting hitched! LOL

[applecider]

Originally Posted by TnMsMama

I did find out that even tho he's supported my DS 100% for the past year, technically he can't claim him unless we're married. I added it to my list of reasons he should stop fighting me about getting hitched! LOL

I've never heard of that and took a tax class for my accounting degree. DP claims both our kids and me as dependents. It doesn't matter who the person is, if you are 100% supporting them, you can claim them on your taxes.

[zoebugsmom]

He claims me and the kids as dependents. His company offers domestic partnership benefits so I get insurance and all that through him. We've never tried to get any kind of assistance but I know here you have to use the entire household income when trying to get it. I imagine MA works the same way.