topic Claim adult children in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

Claim adult children

rmcrod — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 20:42:43 GMT

Can I claim my daughter (attending Master's program) if she got married on December 27, 2025? Can her husband claim her as well?

Re: Claim adult children

xmasbaby0 — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 20:47:59 GMT

A spouse can never be claimed as a dependent on a tax return, so no, her husband cannot claim her. The newlyweds can file a joint return and enter all of their combined income, etc on that return and get the MFJ standard deduction of $31,500 and would be able to use education credits (Lifetime Learning Credit or maybe student loan interest) on their tax return. Perhaps, depending on their income, they would be eligible for earned income credit.

Or....if you claim your daughter as a dependent, you would be the one who can use the Lifetime Learning Credit on your tax return, and on their joint return they would have to say that she can be claimed as someone else's dependent.

Re: Claim adult children

MelindaS1 — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 21:14:37 GMT

In addition to the above guidance, you can also use this IRS online quiz to determine if you are able to claim someone else as an eligible dependent on your tax return.

FAQ - Rules for dependents