Income tax and dependents

[wishesuponastar]

At what age does your child no longer considered a dependent ? Is it 18? Thanks

 

[deva]

At what age does your child no longer considered a dependent ? Is it 18? Thanks

Under 19. Under 24 if student. That is for qualifying child test. They could still possibly meet qualifying relative test though. Rules are complex. Check out IRS website.

 

[tvguy]

For both mine the test was when I no longer provided over 50% of their support, age 25 in DS's case.

 

[It'sWDW4me]

The Child Tax Credit stops the year that your DS/DD turns 17. No more CTC for me - DS turned 17 this past May.

 

[wishesuponastar]

Thank u everyone. I will also look on IRS website

 

[tar heel]

Child tax - 17. Dependent - 24 if you provide over half their support, which isn't hard if you're paying for college.

 

[tvguy]

Age isn't a factor, they just become classified as a dependent relative instead of a dependent child at the ages you have list. They are still full deductible if:

You can claim a dependent on your tax return if you meet all five tests:

1.Gross income: The dependent earns less than $3,100 in income during the year,
2.Total Support: You provide over half of the dependent's total support during the year,
3.Relationship: You are related to the dependent in certain ways,
4.Joint Return: If the dependent is married, the dependent cannot file a joint return with his or her spouse.
5.Citizenship: The dependent must be a citizen or resident alien of the United States, Canada, or Mexico.

http://taxes.about.com/od/2004taxes/a/dependents04.htm

 

[kim929]

For both mine the test was when I no longer provided over 50% of their support, age 25 in DS's case.

This.
I supported my dd and dgd so they were considered my dependents

 

[ZoeBell]

I always do my taxes myself and have a few questions if anyone can answer?

My ds22 still lives at home. He works a full time job/no school and besides the roof over his head, food in the house and health insurance I don't financially support him any more. Is he still a dependent? An exemption? Do I even claim him on the taxes?

Then there is my dd20. Moved out out her own in an apt with a girlfriend . Full time job/no school. She still lists my house for bank purposes and w2s. Can I still put her on my taxes?

I know in the past when I did their short form taxes it was just the simple form to claim whatever refund they were do. But would they file differently? I know my son couldn't because he lives at home(right?), but could my daughter claim "Head of Household" since she lives on her own? I know her friend claims it that way, but she has a baby. Can two people, essentially roommates both claim "head of household"?. Or do both dd20 and ds22 claim single?

 

[It'sWDW4me]

I always do my taxes myself and have a few questions if anyone can answer?

My ds22 still lives at home. He works a full time job/no school and besides the roof over his head, food in the house and health insurance I don't financially support him any more. Is he still a dependent? An exemption? Do I even claim him on the taxes?

Then there is my dd20. Moved out out her own in an apt with a girlfriend . Full time job/no school. She still lists my house for bank purposes and w2s. Can I still put her on my taxes?

I know in the past when I did their short form taxes it was just the simple form to claim whatever refund they were do. But would they file differently? I know my son couldn't because he lives at home(right?), but could my daughter claim "Head of Household" since she lives on her own? I know her friend claims it that way, but she has a baby. Can two people, essentially roommates both claim "head of household"?. Or do both dd20 and ds22 claim single?

I'm not a professional tax preparer but I do my own. I would think you could still claim DS as a dependent - shelter, water, electricity, food, health ins are all heavy hitters, IMHO. DD, though, no you couldn't claim her since she's completely self supporting. Since she has no dependents of her own, she would file taxes as "Single".

 

[disneychrista]

My ds22 still lives at home. He works a full time job/no school and besides the roof over his head, food in the house and health insurance I don't financially support him any more. Is he still a dependent? An exemption? Do I even claim him on the taxes?

If he is working full time, then I can only assume he is making more than the amount listed by tvguy. Which would make you unable to claim him as a dependent.

1.Gross income: The dependent earns less than $3,100 in income during the year,

 

[tar heel]

tvguy's information is incorrect if the dependent in question is your child under 19 or your student child under 25, which is what this thread is about. The child does not have any income limitations.

 

[tar heel]

I'm not a tax professional either ... but ZoeBell's kids are over 19 and not students, which means she can't claim them as dependents.

You need a child to be a head of household.

 

[tvguy]

tvguy's information is incorrect if the dependent in question is your child under 19 or your student child under 25, which is what this thread is about. The child does not have any income limitations.

How so?

 

[tar heel]

What you posted doesn't apply to CHILDREN under 19 or under 24 and a student. The child's income is not relevant in determining dependency.

I put 25 earlier --it's 24.

This information is actually in tvguy's link under "Gross Income." His link is a from a few years back -- the income requirement for claiming Aunt Martha or Grandma has gone up a little.