Child switch between dependent and independent

vtpeco — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 05:14:19 GMT

I have been claiming my son as a dependent on my tax return. Based on a lot of unearned income this year, it may be more beneficial to NOT claim him as a dependent this year and let him file his own taxes.

If he is 'independent' this year, can I claim him again next year as a dependent?

Re: Child switch between dependent and independent

ColeenD3 — Tue, 22 Feb 2022 21:27:22 GMT

You can't forgo claiming a dependent so he gets a tax break. While you can omit him from your return, he must say that he can be claimed.

There is a common idea that a parent can decide not to claim a dependent so that they can reap certain benefits. The truth is, a qualifying child or a qualifying relative is your dependent.

While the IRS never comes out and says that you must claim a dependent, they do give the definition of who is a dependent.

The term “dependent” means:

A qualifying child, or
A qualifying relative.

While you can choose not to claim your dependent, the qualifying person MUST indicate on his own return that he is a dependent, but that no one will actually claim him as such.

In TurboTax Online, the questions read:

Someone else can claim me as a dependent on their tax return. You would answer yes.

And this person will claim me on their 2021 tax return. You would answer no.

topic Child switch between dependent and independent in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

Child switch between dependent and independent

Re: Child switch between dependent and independent