Dependent as a full time student

[Dgarren83401]

I have two children between 19 and 17, both are full time students.  TT allows me to identify one of them as a full time student, but not the other.  I’ve tried deleting the profile of the child that doesn’t get to be identified as a full time student and re-created their profile, but I still don’t get a chance to add them as a student.  Searched other threads on this topic with no luck.  any suggestions?  Thanks!

[Hal_Al]

Be sure you have the latest updates. An early error, in this area, was recently corrected.

There are two types of dependents, "Qualifying Children"(QC) and Other ("Qualifying Relative" in IRS parlance even though they don't have to actually be related). There is no income limit for a QC but there is an age limit, student status, a relationship test and residence test.

A child of a taxpayer can still be a “Qualifying Child” (QC) dependent, regardless of his/her income, if:

1. He is under age 19, or under 24 if a full time student for at least 5 months of the year, or is totally & permanently disabled
2. He did not provide more than 1/2 his own support. Scholarships are excluded from the support calculation
3. He lived with the parent (including temporary absences such as away at school) for more than half the year. Answer all year when asked how long the kid lived with you. 

If that fits your kid, you have answered something wrong in the interview.  Reply back with how you answered each interview question. 

[Dgarren83401]

Downloaded TT today, so should be the right version?  

1.  Student in question is 17 and a full time student

2.  Child did not provide more than half their support/income (I did)

3.  Did live with me the entire year.k

Thanks for the help!

[Hal_Al]

Yes, downloaded today is updated.

Did that take care of the problem? Is the kid now showing as your dependent? For a 17 y.o., student status is irrelevant. A child under 19,living with you, is a QC dependent, regardless of student status. 

[Dgarren83401]

Yes, she’s showing as a dependent.  But I don’t have the opportunity to identify her as a full time student.  I get that opportunity for my 19 yo, but not for the 17 yo.

[Dgarren83401]

Sounds like that’s not an issue, based on your post above.  Correct?

[Hal_Al]

Correct.  You do not identify her, as a student,  in the personal info / dependent section of the TurboTax program.

If she is a student and you want to claim the tuition credit, you will get a chance to do that, later, at the educational expenses section under deductions and credits.

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[gpzjack]

My 18 year old is a full time student in college. No where do i find the question about being a  full time student and i am just given the standard $500 deduction?

[VolvoGirl]

Sorry yes.  Over16 you only get the $500 other dependent amount.   Has to be under 17 on Dec 31 to get the Child Tax Credit.

[DoninGA]

Go back to the My Info section of the program and edit the dependent.  There will be a screen that asks if the dependent is a full time student.  Since the child is over the age of 16 then they are only eligible for the Other Dependent Credit of $500 

[Hal_Al]

There are two types of dependents, "Qualifying Children"(QC) and Other ("Qualifying Relative" in IRS parlance even though they don't have to actually be related). There is no income limit for a QC but there is an age limit, student status, a relationship test and residence test.

A child of a taxpayer can still be a “Qualifying Child” (QC) dependent, regardless of his/her income, if:

1. He is under age 19, or under 24 if a full time student for at least 5 months of the year, or is totally & permanently disabled

Because your child is under 19, you may not get the full time student question, in the personal info section.  It will come up later in the educational expenses section. 

A child over age 16 no longer qualifies for the Child Tax credit (CTC). Although a child can still be a student dependent through age 23, and a qualifying child for EIC,  the Child Tax Credit expires the year they turn 17 and you no longer get the $2000 CTC. Instead you will get the non-refundable (up to) $500 Other Dependent Credit.