Discussion:An odd tax season for me

I know I don't post often, but I do enjoy popping on the site to see what's up from time to time. Being that I am a part-time tax preparer, I don't often feel qualified to post, and frankly, I've gotten pretty gunshy from reading some of the blasts from some of the pros. I just don't think I meet their criteria. I work for a firm that has been growing my experience slowly over the past 5 or 6 years, and I've really enjoyed the banter on this forum. I have a limited range of tax topics that I can do, and the rest, I pass on to others more capable. Sometimes, gently suggestions from posters like Riley2 have let me know it's time to pass one on down the line! This year, I'm having an odd tax season. I am rather stranded in Beirut. I came here in September to adopt a little girl, and thought I would be home by the end of November. Now we're looking at March...maybe. It's not all bad, as I finally have a little girl for whom I've been waiting for over 9 years, so that's cool.

I have an ulterior motive to my post. Being stranded here, I am also without most of my resources (did you know that ssa.gov won't allow you to log in from over here - I do now). I am trying to find out information about claiming my daughter as a dependent. The adoption will not be final until we get back to the states (2009), so I can't claim any adoption expenses or credits yet, but I seem to recall from classes that I can claim her as a dependent if she is in my care. She has been in my care since she was a day old in October. I've not had any clients where I've had to deal with an adoption of any sort. In fact, in the 25 years my brother has been doing taxes, neither has he. So this one is out of my realm. I do have some time on my hands to research it, but only via the internet at this point. Somehow, my searches are coming up empty, and I'm guessing I haven't found the right search terms. If anyone can point me in the right direction for where to look, I would really appreciate it.

I guess this post is rambling. Sorry, but I don't get to speak in English very often, and even when I do, the conversations aren't exactly deep.

irs.gov

for a start

RoyDaleOne - thanks for replying. I should have been more clear in my original post. Power goes out here several times a day, and I got caught in one of those when I was trying to post, and didn't get to double check my post. I'm getting hung up on the definition of 'foster child', and what I need to quialify. I have been looking at foster child definitions, and I always get caught up on the fact that I'm in a foreign country, so they don't have the same process that the US does. I have had custody of Grace since October, but I don't have any formal paperwork that says this. I've been trying to get the center that placed her in my custody to write a letter stating this, but they just look at me like I'm crazy since I now have paperwork that says she is my daughter (but that's dated 2009). They don't quite get that I would need statements for 2008 for tax purposes (I'm also trying to get receipts for court expenses, etc, and they don't get that either). I do have letters that I've written to them asking to formally adopt Grace that state that I've been caring for her since October, but I don't think that would be enough. Do you think I need to get a letter from the center for 2008?

Laticia - thank you! I saw in your profile that you have your own sort of Brady Bunch - congrats on that, and definitely get married after tax season! I'm jealous as I'm one of 9 kids, and always wanted a bunch of my own, but I guess one will have to do.

Q.9. What is placement documentation?

A.9. Placement documentation is the signed documentation placing the child in your care for legal adoption. In general, one of the following documents will satisfy this requirement:

   *      A placement agreement entered into between you and a public or private adoption agency.
   *      A document signed by a hospital official authorizing the release of a newborn child to you for legal adoption.
   *      A court order or other court document ordering or approving the placement of a child with you for legal adoption.
   *      An affidavit signed by an attorney, a government official, etc., placing the child with you pursuant to the states' legal adoption laws.

The placement documentation is sometimes referred to as "Placement Agreement"; "Surrender Papers"; "Temporary Placement Paperwork"; "Placement Order" etc. This documentation termed differently from state to state must clearly establish that the child was placed in your home for purposes of adoption by an authorized adoption agency (or agent), and must include the following information:

   *      Adoptive Parent(s) full name
   *      Child's full name
   *      Name of the Placement Agency or Agent
   *      The date the child was placed in the adoptive parents home.
   *      The signature of the parent or parents (the adopting taxpayers) and that of an official representative of the authorized placing agency or agent.

However, this whole page assumes that the child is living with me in the US. I have had to set up house in Beirut to complete the paperwork. In another discussion, Riley2 made me realize that I've ignored the residency issue, so now I'm really confused since she didn't live with me for more than 6 months even though that doesn't apply for children who are born during the year.