topic I claimed 0 (Zero) dependents on my W2 last year and when filing.... in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

I claimed 0 (Zero) dependents on my W2 last year and when filing....

soulwinner10 — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 11:00:38 GMT

Hello,

I claimed zero dependents on my W2 all last year because my daughter was no longer a full-time college student, 23, and started a job in January-although still living at home. I expected her to continue working, but things happened to where she could not continue her employment. Rather than changing my dependent status on my W2, I kept it as zero dependents-hopeful she would regain steady consistent employment, but did not.

I just started to file my taxes and when going through the prompts about my daughter, it stated that she qualified as a dependent based on the questions I answered. Will me not changing my W2 back to 1 dependent last year be an issue when now I'm claiming her as dependent on my taxes?

Thank You.

Re: I claimed 0 (Zero) dependents on my W2 last year and when filing....

VolvoGirl — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 17:53:04 GMT

No. What you claim at work on the W4 doesn't have to match your tax return. I'm married but always claim Single 0 at work to have more taken out.

Re: I claimed 0 (Zero) dependents on my W2 last year and when filing....

soulwinner10 — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 18:43:54 GMT

Hello,

Thanks for your reply. I forgot to add that my daughter also indicated on her W4, last year, that noone else could claim her as a dependent in order to match my W4. Will this be an issue? Thanks Again.

Re: I claimed 0 (Zero) dependents on my W2 last year and when filing....

VolvoGirl — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 18:45:24 GMT

Nope. No problem. Just make sure on her return she checks the box that says she can be claimed on someone else's return.

Re: I claimed 0 (Zero) dependents on my W2 last year and when filing....

soulwinner10 — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 18:53:00 GMT

Well, she is not filing for 2023 because she doesn't meet the filing requirements and is still considered a dependent.

Re: I claimed 0 (Zero) dependents on my W2 last year and when filing....

soulwinner10 — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 19:08:29 GMT

I would also like to know what the 2023 rules are for claiming a dependent because the whole reason I stopped claiming my daughter as dependent on my W4 was because she was not a "qualifying child". Like I said, she was 23, no longer a full-time student, and had a job .

However, I just found out, while doing my return that she does qualify as a "qualifying relative", which I did not know was possible. Would you please clarify this for me? Thank You.

Re: I claimed 0 (Zero) dependents on my W2 last year and when filing....

VolvoGirl — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 19:15:14 GMT

You can claim her (or anyone) at any age as a qualifying relative if she had less than $4,700 total income for the year. How much did she make?

Who can you claim
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/credits-and-deductions/help/who-can-i-claim-as-my-dependent/01/26781

Re: I claimed 0 (Zero) dependents on my W2 last year and when filing....

soulwinner10 — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 19:32:48 GMT

That's why she qualifies then because she made under $4,700.00. That makes sense.