The tax law allows individuals who receive foster care payments to exclude them from gross income if all three of the following conditions are met:
In one recent case, the taxpayers owned two residences. They spent considerable time at the foster care home and had a bedroom there. However, their extended family (who were not foster care clients) lived in the other residence. They lived in the residence with their extended family.
The Tax Court denied them the right to exclude the foster care payments. The fact that they owned the home in which the foster care clients lived did not mean that the clients lived in the provider’s home. Based on the facts, the taxpayers lived in one home and worked in the other. Thus, the foster payments were taxable.
Source: Jonathan E. Stromme et al, 138 TC No. 9
Advance payment of current tax liability based either on wage withholdings or installment payments of your estimated tax liability. To avoid penalties, you generally must pay to the IRS either 90% of your final tax liability, or either 100% or 110% of the prior year’s tax liability, depending on your adjusted gross income.