Eic, Etc.

[Black Bart]

Are cousins (not a foster child) eligible for the Earned Income Credit?

[TMAC]

Cousins, no. Nieces, nephews, yes.

[travis bickle]

since you specifically said

Are cousins (not a foster child) eligible for the Earned Income Credit?

not a foster child, the only way I can see this to happen is if:
(1) someone adopts the cousin (cousin now equals an adopted child), or
(2) if you were to marry the parental widow/er not related to you and the cousin thereby becomes your stepchild. no jokes about west virginia, please.

[Black Bart]

The way

not a foster child, the only way I can see this to happen is if:
(1) someone adopts the cousin (cousin now equals an adopted child), or
(2) if you were to marry the parental widow/er not related to you and the cousin thereby becomes your stepchild. no jokes about west virginia, please.

I'm reading it is this: Since a "qualifying child" is your kids (or your kids' kids) OR your brother/sister (or their kids, kids' kids, etc.), then the EIC has to be someone from your generation or a generation below it. It can't be someone from a generation above yours (your aunt or uncle) and therefore not your cousin (a descendant of your aunt/uncle).

Have I got that right (assuming we don't get into the aforementioned inbreeding)?

West Virginia jokes? Please (I'm from Arkansas)! Perish, the thought.

[DTS]

Bart...

Once again, your post was the highlight of my wife's and my day!!

Too bad you don't live in my town in CA. We could have coffee every morning and you could set the tone for the day with a story or two. What a terrific sense of humor you have!

For at least the 50th time, thanks.

Dennis