To qualify for the Adoption Credit, the following must be true:
- Your filing status is single, head of household, qualifying widow(er), or married filing jointly.
Exception: The Married Filing Separate status may be used:
- If you are claiming a carryforward amount and you filed a joint return in the year the original credit was claimed
- Both 2 and 3 (below) are true and you lived apart from your spouse for the last 6 months of 2019, the child lived with you for more than half of the 2019 tax year, and you provided more than half the cost of keeping up your home.
- Your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) is less than $251,160 (begins to phase out at $211,161) or you have a carryforward of an adoption credit from 2018.
- You are able to provide the information required about the child. These include the name, year of birth, child's identifying number and the date the adoption became final. The identifying number can be a social security number, the adoption taxpayer identification number or an individual tax identification number. If the child does not have an identifying number, you can apply for a number using Form SS-5 (Social Security Number), Form W-7A (US Citizen or resident alien that cannot get a SSN) or form W-7 (Not a US Citizen or resident alien).
Refer to the instructions for form 8839 for more information.
