Can a parent claim me as dependent?

Forum|Forum|8 months ago
November 16, 2025
1 reply
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Do I qualify as dependent of my mom?Turning 22 in Dec. I work and go to school part time (grants covered my tuition). I filed my tax last year, but I was claimed by my mom as her dependent including my 1098-t. I live with her and also under her health insurance. If she does claim me who uses the 1098-t?

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Best answer by Hal_Al

Expert Reviewed

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:

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
He did not provide more than 1/2 his own support. Scholarships are excluded from the support calculation
He lived with the parent (including temporary absences such as away at school) for more than half the year

So, if you are over 18 and not a full time student, you cannot be a QC. There is a $5200 income test that determines if you can be claimed as a qualifying relative dependent. The $5200 is not limited to earned income.

This question usually comes up in determining who gets to "claim the 1098-T" for the generous education credit, because of a special rule that limits college age students from claiming it.* The simple answer is: you get to claim it (even if you are under 24) since you are not a full time student and do not qualify as your parent's dependent.

*There's a new 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 full time unmarried student, under age 24, even if you don't qualify as a dependent, 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. It is usually best if the parent claims that credit.

You cannot claim the (up to) $1000 refundable credit if you are, or can be, claimed as a dependent by someone else.

Reference: Line 7 instructions for form 8863.

https://www.irs.gov/instructions/i8863#en_US_2024_publink53002gd0e674

https://www.irs.gov/instructions/i8863

X

xmasbaby0

Level 15

Since you are not a full-time student, whether you can be claimed as a dependent is determined by how much you earned by working. You say you worked----how much have you earned in 2025? Since you cannot be a qualifying child dependent, we need to know how much your 2025 income has been in order to tell if you could be a qualified relative dependent for your parent. If you earned more than $5200 you cannot be claimed.

**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.**

Hal_Al

Answer

Level 15

Expert Reviewed

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:

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
He did not provide more than 1/2 his own support. Scholarships are excluded from the support calculation
He lived with the parent (including temporary absences such as away at school) for more than half the year

So, if you are over 18 and not a full time student, you cannot be a QC. There is a $5200 income test that determines if you can be claimed as a qualifying relative dependent. The $5200 is not limited to earned income.

This question usually comes up in determining who gets to "claim the 1098-T" for the generous education credit, because of a special rule that limits college age students from claiming it.* The simple answer is: you get to claim it (even if you are under 24) since you are not a full time student and do not qualify as your parent's dependent.

*There's a new 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 full time unmarried student, under age 24, even if you don't qualify as a dependent, 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. It is usually best if the parent claims that credit.

You cannot claim the (up to) $1000 refundable credit if you are, or can be, claimed as a dependent by someone else.

Reference: Line 7 instructions for form 8863.

https://www.irs.gov/instructions/i8863#en_US_2024_publink53002gd0e674

https://www.irs.gov/instructions/i8863