My child lives with me but not my dependent I pay college expenses but he filed the 1098T. How do Iclaim college expense for I paid for him

[Bsch4477 · Accepted solution]

You have to claim the dependency to claim education credit.

[Hal_Al]

The education credit goes with the student's exemption. If you don't claim him, you can't claim it. But, he may count the money you paid in claiming the credit on his return.

But, as others have suggested, it's unusual for a college kid, living at home,  to be claiming himself. He may not qualify. Furthermore, there's an  urban myth among college students that says they can get a $1000 from the government just for filing a tax form. For most of them, they simply aren't eligible. A student, under age 24, is only eligible for the refundable portion of the American Opportunity Credit if he supports himself by working. You cannot be supporting yourself on parental support, 529 plans or student loans & grants. You must have actually paid tuition, not had it paid by scholarships & grants.  It is usually best if the parent claims that credit. 

[xmasbaby0]

If you are not claiming him as your dependent you cannot claim the education credits.  

"My child lives with me" 

"I pay college expenses"

Why are you not claiming him as your dependent?  Was he over the age of 23 in 2017?

WHO CAN I CLAIM AS A DEPENDENT?

You can claim a child, relative, friend, fiance (etc.) as a dependent on your 2017 taxes as long as they meet the following requirements:

Qualifying child

• They are related to you.

• They aren't claimed as a dependent by someone else.

• They are a U.S. citizen, resident alien, national, or a Canadian or Mexican resident.

• They aren’t filing a joint return with their spouse.

• They are under the age of 19 (or 24 for full-time students).

? No age limit for permanently and totally disabled children.

• They live with you for more than half the year (exceptions apply).

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 are 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.

• They made less than $4,050 in 2017.

• You provided more than half of their financial support. More info