This article cleared up a lot of confusion I had about claiming a spouse as a dependent. I didn’t realize that under certain conditions, like if the spouse has no income and isn’t filing jointly, they could be considered a dependent for tax purposes. That distinction between filing jointly and separately is really important. I think many couples overlook the potential benefits or consequences of choosing one over the other. Does claiming a spouse as a dependent impact eligibility for other tax credits, like the Earned Income Tax Credit?