Do I have to claim my child on my taxes?

Forum|Forum|3 years ago
March 25, 2023
2 replies
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My daughter will be entering her second year of college in the fall, and for her first year I co-signed her school loan. I would like for her to get her own loan for her second year. Do I still claim her on my taxes as a dependent or do I not claim her as a dependent? I've also already done the FAFSA for the coming year.

Not A Product Question

ErnieS0

The IRS doesn't allow you a choice about whether to claim someone as a dependent or whether they should claim themselves.

If your daughter qualifies as your dependent then you should claim her. If you do not, she cannot claim herself. On her return, TurboTax will ask whether another taxpayer can claim your daughter on their tax return.

She would have to check the box even if you did not claim her and the IRS would treat her as a dependent on her return for tax purposes.

The IRS has a nice app to help you: Whom May I Claim as a Dependent?

Learn more at Rules for Claiming a Dependent on Your Tax Return.

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Hal_Al

Employee

You'll have to ask the FAFSA people that question.

As for the tax rules, you are not required to claim a dependent just because that person qualifies as your dependent. But, if you do not, she still cannot claim herself. She MUST check the box on form 1040 that says someone else CAN claim her.