topic Won't let me claim HOH. I pay most expenses 21 and 19 yr old live w/me full time but are part time students. 16 yr old lives with me 50% but dad claims him in 2023. in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

Won't let me claim HOH. I pay most expenses 21 and 19 yr old live w/me full time but are part time students. 16 yr old lives with me 50% but dad claims him in 2023.

User5403831 — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 09:24:24 GMT

I've tried editing both me and dependents and option to say I pay most household expenses won't come up anywhere. Even though I can't claim 16 yr old this year I believe IRS says I can still be HOH.

Re: Won't let me claim HOH. I pay most expenses 21 and 19 yr old live w/me full time but are part time students. 16 yr old lives with me 50% but dad claims him in 2023.

xmasbaby0 — Sat, 27 Jan 2024 06:11:50 GMT

Are you the custodial parent? Do you have an agreement with the other parent to allow the other parent to claim them--due to divorce or that you live apart and share custody? Did one of you sign a Form 8332?

If there is a signed 8332 then the custodial parent retains the right to file as Head of Household, get earned income credit and the childcare credit. The non-custodial parent gets the child tax credit for children under the age of 17.

As far as the IRS is concerned, the custodial parent is the one with whom the child spent the most nights during the tax year--at least 183 nights.

Am I Head of Household?

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1894553-do-i-qualify-for-head-of-household

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2900097-what-is-a-qualifying-person-for-head-of-household

If you qualify as Head of Household, when you enter your marital status (single or married filing separately) into MyInfo, and then enter your qualifying dependent, TurboTax will offer HOH as your filing status.

Re: Won't let me claim HOH. I pay most expenses 21 and 19 yr old live w/me full time but are part time students. 16 yr old lives with me 50% but dad claims him in 2023.

Mike9241 — Sat, 27 Jan 2024 06:50:08 GMT

each of the 19 and 21 year olds since they are not full-time students must have gross income of less than $4700 and not be filing a joint tax return unless there is no tax liability to qualify you as HOH