I've mulled this over all day. Publication 501 (it's online) has information about dependents, and I'll read through it before I make the call. But I think I'll call my old accountant's office first (the guy who started it has moved on, but the office is still there). I'll point out that I've done my taxes but would like to pick their professional brains for 30 minutes or so and what is their hourly rate for consultations? If they say "we don't do that" I'll call someone else.

Over last year I scrimped and saved and "paid myself first" and put the maximum amount that I could in my ROTH IRA. I found an interesting tax credit this year that I was only marginally available before (but considering a couple of corrections to my 2003 taxes, I may go back for it). With my salary, and with as much as I paid into the IRA, I was able to take $1000 off of my taxes. Not off of my taxable income, but off of my taxes. I discovered this when I was reading up about taxe breaks people often miss through a link from Microsoft Money. It is the first time in recent memory that I can say "Thank you, Bill Gates!"

SRS