Elderly or disabled credits

This credit can provide up to $1,125 to qualified taxpayers whose income doesn't exceed certain limits.

Qualified individuals include U.S. citizens or residents, who at the end of the tax year are:

• 65 or older, or
• Under age 65 AND retired on permanent and total disability AND received taxable disability income AND didn't reach mandatory retirement age before the tax year.

Doctor's note
If you're under age 65, you must have a doctor's note certifying that you were permanently and totally disabled on the date that you retired. You don't have to file this statement with your Form 1040 or Form 1040A, but you must keep it for your records.

If the Department of Veterans Affairs certifies that you're permanently and totally disabled, you can substitute VA Form 21-0172, Certification of Permanent and Total Disability, for the doctor's note. You can get this form from your local regional VA office, and this form must be signed by a person authorized by the VA to do so.

Filing status
Generally, if you're married, you and your spouse must file a joint return to claim this credit. However, you may be able to claim the credit on a separate return if you and your spouse lived apart for the entire year. If your filing status is head of household, you may also be able to claim the credit even if your spouse lived with you during the first six months of the year.

To compute this credit
Begin by filling out the front of Schedule R of Form 1040 or Schedule 3 of Form 1040A.

Next, fill out Part III of either Schedule R or Schedule 3.

For more information regarding this credit, see IRS Publication 524, Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled.

Article from Bankrate.com