The question in TurboTax is "Can you (taxpayer on the return) be claimed as a dependent on someone else's return?" Your son on his return would need to answer "Yes" or "No". If he answered "Yes" then he is not eligible for earned income credit (EIC).
Next. If he answered "No" then based on his age he would be asked "Are you a full-time student?" He would answer "Yes" or "No" If yes, then based on his age and student status he would not be eligible for EIC because as a student you need to be at least age 24.
If he answers "No" he is not a student then he would be eligible for EIC at age 19 assuming he meets the other income and residency requirements.
The IRS does not know one's student status; it is not reported on the tax return. So according to what the IRS knows (age, income, and filing status) they would notify him of the potential credit.
Again if he indicated in TurboTax that he was a student under age 24 he would not be eligible for EIC.
Below is an extract from the IRS Newsroom. You can view the link for more information.
To qualify for the earned income credit without dependent (single filers).
- Be at least age 18 at the end of the tax year (usually Dec. 31)
- The minimum age to claim the EIC is generally age 19; however, if you are a qualified former foster youth or a qualified homeless youth, you need to be at least age 18.
- If you are a specified student (other than a qualified former foster youth or a qualified homeless youth), you need to be at least age 24.
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