can someone be claimed as a dependent on a tax return if they do not live with you?

Its possible to claim someone who doesn't live with you, but in all cases the person must be related to you.

Someone who is not related MUST live with you for the ENTIRE year. So even if you're providing 100% of their financial support, you cannot claim them if they live apart.

If any of the children are biologically yours, then they're related and you may be able to claim them.

There are certain dependents that do not have to live with the taxpayer, but in all these cases, the dependent is a relative of the taxpayer.

An unrelated girlfriend could not be your dependent if she did not live with you even if you supported her.

In some situations, but not in yours.

In some situations, you can claim a person who is your own child, nephew, sister, etc., even if the person does not live with you.

You cannot, ever, under any circumstances, claim a boyfriend or girlfriend who does not live with you.

You cannot, ever, under any circumstances, claim a person who is not related to you and does not live with you.

You can claim an unrelated person as a dependent under the Qualifying Relative rule if ALL of the following conditions are met:

1. The person is a US citizen or resident of the US, Canada or Mexico.

2. The person is not the Qualifying Child of another taxpayer.

3. The person does not file a joint return with another taxpayer.

4. The person lived in your home for the entire tax year. (You fail this test so you cannot claim any of them as dependents regardless of how much support that you pay.)

5. The person had less than the personal exemption amount ($3,900 for 2013, $3,950 for 2014) in gross income (excluding only non-taxable Social Security) for the entire year. Gross income includes all income from all sources before any deductions whatsoever, including normal business expense deductions.

6. The person received more than 50% of their total support from you for the entire year.

7. There is no state law or local law or ordinance that prohibits cohabitation. Any such law or ordinance, even if unenforced, kills the exemption. Mississippi, Virginia, West Virginia, Florida, North Dakota and Michigan still have laws that prohibit cohabitation as do a number of cities, towns and counties throughout the country.

If you can claim the person, you only get the exemption. No Head of Household filing status, no EIC, no Child Tax Credit, etc.

See IRS Pub 501 http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p501.pdf for more information.

Sorry, no - they are NOT related to you. You are only allowed to claim relatives who don't live with you as dependents & only if you qualify to do so.

If they move in with you, possibly; but it depends on certain tests & these tests must be met to qualify to take a non relative as a dependent on a tax return... Your GF & her children would have to have less than 3,950 in gross income each for the entire year. You would have to provide over half of their support if they lived with you & your relationship can not be in violation of state laws & no one else has the right to claim them or the bigger claim to do so. (yes, there are still a few states where it is illegal to live together if unmarried & *** sinning*** )

See Pub 501 & start reading on Page 11 & look at the worksheets & Table 5

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-prior/p501--2013.pdf

Not when they aren't a close relative, so in your case no.

why would that be fraud if i pay their bills

Parents in a nursing home or a child away at college don't have to live with you. Others do.

Not in your case, as none of them are related to you. Only way you can claim someone unrelated is for them to live with you.

There's an easy way to solve your problem-marry her!