How old was your son at the end of 2025? How much did he earn in 2025? Did he live there in 2024? Did he have a permanent home in MA?
North Carolina follows the same rules for dependents as ...
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How old was your son at the end of 2025? How much did he earn in 2025? Did he live there in 2024? Did he have a permanent home in MA?
North Carolina follows the same rules for dependents as the IRS. So if you cannot claim your son for federal purposes, you cannot claim him on your NC return.
If your son was 24 or older at the end of 25, he no longer qualifies as your qualifying child, he could potentially be a Qualifying Relative, but if he earned more than $5,200, he would not be your qualifying relative either.
As to whether or not he needs to file a NC return, that depends on when he established residency in MA (drivers license, got a permanent home/apartment, registered to vote, updated mailing address, etc). If he did it as soon as he moved there and was moved in prior to 2025, then he would not need to file a NC return.
If he did not establish residency in MA until he graduated, and did not have any income until he graduated, then he would not need to file a NC return because he wouldn't have taxable income during his NC residency time.
If he did not establish residency in MA until he started working, but he did have income for the rest of the year, if that income was greater than $12,750, he would need to file as a part year resident for NC and a non resident return for MA. He would take a credit on the NC return for taxes paid to MA. Yes, he will need to file a MA return, but as to whether it is a full year or part year depends on when he established residency in MA. If he moved there with the intention of being there permanently and found a permanent home, then he would file as a full year resident. If he moved there, lived in temporary housing and then when he graduated moved into a permanent home, then he would be a part year resident.
Multiple States—Where to File