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March 5, 2025
Question

Tax status for adult child

  • March 5, 2025
  • 3 replies
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My daughter lives at home while she takes college classes and works, in prep for grad school.  Is she still considered my dependent?

3 replies

Employee
March 5, 2025

You have not mentioned her age or whether she was a full-time student in 2024.   Those are important factors in determining if she can be a qualifying child dependent or qualifying relative dependent.

 

IRS interview to help determine who can be claimed:

https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/who-can-i-claim-as-a-dependent

WHO CAN I CLAIM AS A DEPENDENT?

 

You can claim a child, relative, friend, or fiancé (etc.) as a dependent on your 2024 taxes as long as they meet the following requirements:

Qualifying child

  • They're related to you.
  • They aren't claimed as a dependent by someone else.
  • They're a U.S. citizen, resident alien, national, or a Canadian or Mexican resident.
  • They aren’t filing a joint return with their spouse.
  • They're under the age of 19 (or 24 for full-time students).
    • No age limit for permanently and totally disabled children.
  • They lived with you for more than half the year (exceptions apply).
  • They didn't provide more than half of their own support for the year.

Qualifying relative

  • They don't have to be related to you (despite the name).
  • They aren't claimed as a dependent by someone else.
  • They're a U.S. citizen, resident alien, national, or a Canadian or Mexican resident.
  • They aren’t filing a joint return with their spouse.
  • They lived with you the entire year (exceptions apply).
  • They made less than $5050 in 2024 (not counting Social Security)
  • You provided more than half of their financial support.

When you add someone as a dependent, we'll ask a series of questions to make sure you can claim them. There may be other tax benefits you can get when you claim a dependent.

Related Information:

 

**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**
March 5, 2025

It depends. She must not be paying more than half of her own support and she must meet the other qualifications.

Qualifying child:

  • They're related to you.
  • They aren't claimed as a dependent by someone else.
  • They're a US citizen, resident alien, national, or a Canadian or Mexican resident.
  • They aren’t filing a joint return with their spouse.
  • They're under the age of 19 (or 24 for full-time students).
    • There's no age limit for permanently and totally disabled children.
  • They lived with you for more than half the year (exceptions apply).
  • They didn't provide more than half of their own support for the year.

Who can I claim as my dependent? See here for more information. Be sure to answer all the questions in your tax return.

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March 5, 2025

She graduated in May 2024 (was full time prior to graduation).  She took 3 classes in the Fall of 2024, but was not full time.

@DianeW777 

Employee
March 5, 2025

@Staceyjo67 And...we still do not know her age or whether she earned less than $5050.  You have not told us some of the most important information.

**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**
March 5, 2025

I apologize; she did make more than that last year, so I guess the answer is NO.