My son is 17 but made more than 4050 but is a full time high school student how do I put that in, it says he cant be a dependent ?

[BobinCT · Accepted solution]

Maybe it said you can't get a Child Tax Credit (because he turned 17).  That's not the same as claiming him as a dependent.

[xmasbaby0]

If your child turned 17 in 2017, even on the last day of 2017, you do not get the child tax credit.  There are no exceptions to the rule.  You can still claim your child as a dependent.

[Phillip1]

You can claim a child as a dependent as long as all of the following applies:

1. He is a qualifying relationship. Son is a qualifying relationship.
2. He lived with you for more than half of the year. I am assuming he meets this test.
3. He must not have provided more than half of his own support. Fill out Worksheet 2 to see whether he provided more than half of his own support.
4. He cannot file a joint return.

If the program is not allowing him to be claimed as a dependent, there may be an issue with how you are answering the questions. Generally the dependent questions for a 17 year old dependent should go as follows:

1. TurboTax will ask you whether the dependent is your child.
2. Name, Birthday, US citizenship or residency, whether an adopted or foster child.
3. How long your son lived with you. If he was away for school, that period counts as living with you. Generally this will be between 7-12 months. If you are divorced and your son lived with the other parent, you will answer the remaining questions different that I am writing.
4. How many months in the US? This will most likely be the whole year.
5. Disability or death. This most likely doesn't apply.
6. The program will ask whether he covered half of his expenses Most likely no, but filling out worksheet 2 as mentioned above will help you make sure.
7. The program will ask whether he was married. Most likely the answer is no.
8. TurboTax will ask who are the legal parents  If only one of you or your spouse is the legal parent, the next screen will ask if there is an agreement about who will claim him as a dependent. The first question is whether there is an agreement. If there is no agreement, the program will ask about who he spent more time with (needs to be you to claim him). If there is an agreement, the program will ask if the other parent is claiming your son. You will answer no if you are claiming him as a dependent.
9. The program will also ask about relatives living with you and helping support your son. If there was a relative living with you and helping with support, the program will ask about who had the highest income.