Question 8

8) (11 points) Joyce and Bob are married and have one son, Jonathan, who is 16 years old in 2017. They choose to file their taxes using the Married Filing Joint status every year. In November of 2017, Joyce and Bob took in Jonathan's 16-year old friend, Steve, who has lived with them ever since. Joyce and Bob have not legally adopted Steve but Jonathan often refers to Steve as "his hairy brother." Joyce and Bob provide all of the support for both boys, neither boy receives any income during the year, and both boys live at Joyce and Bob's residence throughout 2019. a) Can Joyce and Bob claim Steve as a dependent on their 2019 tax return? Give a detailed explanation to support your answer regarding why they can or cannot (rules met or broken, how to claim, etc.)