Key Takeaways
- You can usually claim your baby as a dependent no matter what time during the tax year they are born, even as late as December 31st.
- Forgetting to add your newborn as a dependent means you could miss out on tax credits that might lower what you owe on taxes or boost your refund.
- Taking the time to gather required information and double-checking your return helps prevent delays.
When I gave birth, the weeks that followed felt like a blur. Between sleepless nights and adjusting to life with a newborn, my to-do list was long — and understandably focused on everything except taxes.
I did realize that one small but important step hadn’t happened automatically: adding my baby to my tax return.
Why adding your newborn affects your taxes
Forgetting to add your newborn as a dependent is one of the most common tax mistakes. Claiming your baby affects how much you owe or how much you’re refunded. Skipping this step can mean missing out on tax credits you may apply for, including the Child Tax Credit. That could leave you with a smaller refund than expected or a higher tax bill than necessary.
With so much else to manage as a new parent, it’s worth getting this right the first time so you don’t have to go back and fix your return later.
What to get right before you file
Claiming a child as a dependent means entering certain information on the tax return. The most important detail is your baby’s Social Security number. If it hasn’t arrived yet, it’s usually better to wait to file rather than submit your return and fix it later. You can file an extension to give yourself until October 15.
Only one person can claim a child as a dependent. If you’re filing jointly, this typically isn’t an issue. But if you’re filing separately or have shared custody, it’s important to decide ahead of time who will claim the child to avoid delays or processing issues.
Adding your newborn to your tax return
Once you have the required information, adding your newborn is straightforward.
Enter your child’s following details in the Dependents section of your tax return:
- Name
- Social Security number
- Birth date
- Relationship to you
After you’ve completed everything, review your return to confirm your newborn appears correctly. This helps ensure you can claim tax benefits you may qualify for and avoids issues that could delay processing.
If you’re filing separately or have shared custody, it’s especially important to double-check that only one parent claims the child. When more than one return includes the same dependent, it can trigger questions or delays.
Understand how new life events impact your tax return
Major life changes this year? Use our Life Events Calculator to see your potential tax savings.
