Yes, as a student under 24 he very well could be your dependent.
If this is the case, the student must file a tax return as a dependent which MIGHT cause him to owe a little more in tax, but your credit might be more than the increase in tax that the student owes.
The main issue is if the student provided more than half of his own support, in which case he would NOT be a dependent.
Since you mention that he had college costs, that expense counts as part of his needed support, HOWEVER the Scholarship income does not count.
So whatever scholarships covered is support HE DID NOT PROVIDE HIMSELF.
If he put any money into savings, that does not count as him providing his own support.
As a student, you can still count housing you provide even if he is away at school if he is ONLY away to attend school and intends to return home.
You can add all his expenses and only subtract what he paid with his onw EARNED INCOME (no scholarships or gifts). If his EARNED INCOME did not pay for more than half his expenses, he is a Dependent.
Click here for a support worksheet
According to the IRS:
“Qualified education expenses paid by a dependent you claim on your tax return, or by a third party for that dependent, are considered paid by you.”
Pub 970
@Sam Hopi
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