There
are two types of dependents, "Qualifying Children"(QC) and standard
("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,
a relationship test and residence test. Only a QC qualifies a taxpayer for the
Earned Income Credit.
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 (regardless of age)
2. He did not provide more than 1/2 his own support. Scholarships are
considered third party support and not as support provided by the student.
3. He lived with the parent
(including temporary absences such as away at school) for more than half
the year
So, it doesn't matter how much he earned. What matters is how much he spent
on support. Money he put into savings does not count as support he spent on him
self.
The support value of the home, provided by the parent, is the fair market
rental value of the home plus utilities & other expenses divided by the
number of occupants.
A person can still be a Qualifying
relative dependent, if not a Qualifying Child, if he meets the 6 tests for
claiming a dependent:
1. Closely Related OR live
with the taxpayer ALL year
2. His/her gross taxable income for the year must be less than $4150 ($4,050 in 2016-17)
3. The taxpayer must have
provided more than 1/2 his support
In either case:
4. He must be a US citizen or resident of the US, Canada
or Mexico
5. He must not file a joint
return with his spouse or be claiming a dependent of his own
6. He must not be the qualifying
child of another taxpayer
