Yes, that's correct, you cannot claim him as a dependent if he claims the tuition.
One rule is: if a person CAN
be claimed by another, he may NOT claim himself, even if the other person does
not actually claim him.
Technically there is a special rule that
allows your son to claim a tuition credit. But, as a practical matter it
seldom works out. A student, under age 24, is only eligible for the
refundable portion of the American Opportunity Credit if he/she supports
himself by working . He cannot be supporting himself on student loans &
grants and 529 plans and parental support.
If the student actually has a tax liability he
can claim a non-refundable credit but then the parent must forgo claiming the
student's exemption and the student still can’t claim his own exemption.
