topic Child is not considered a dependent this year in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

Child is not considered a dependent this year

whandjr — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 08:57:10 GMT

I have 2 children, both were full time students, both graduated and got jobs, but only one is classifying as a dependent, and i dont know why both are not. Only difference is the one that is considered a dependent is 22, and the one that is not is 24.

why aren't both considered dependents?

Re: Child is not considered a dependent this year

ColeenD3 — Sun, 06 Mar 2022 20:36:43 GMT

Once a dependent reaches the age of 24, he can't have more than $4,300 of income.

Qualifying relative

Here is a checklist for determining whether a relative qualifies.

Do they live with you? Your relative must live at your residence all year or be on the list of “relatives who do not live with you” in Publication 501. About 30 types of relatives are on this list.
Do they make less than $4,300 in 2020 or 2021? Your relative cannot have a gross income of more than $4,300 in 2020 or 2021 and be claimed by you as a dependent.
Do you financially support them? You must provide more than half of your relative’s total support each year.
Are you the only person claiming them? This means you can’t claim the same person twice, once as a qualifying relative and again as a qualifying child. It also means you can’t claim a relative—say a cousin—if someone else, such as his parents, also claims him.

Re: Child is not considered a dependent this year

xmasbaby0 — Sun, 06 Mar 2022 20:37:05 GMT

We do not have all of the information from you.

IRS interview to help determine who can be claimed:

https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/who-can-i-claim-as-a-dependent

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/3113432-who-can-i-claim-as-my-dependent

WHO CAN I CLAIM AS A DEPENDENT?

You can claim a child, relative, friend, or fiancé (etc.) as a dependent on your 2021 taxes as long as they meet the following requirements:

Qualifying child

They're related to you.
They aren't claimed as a dependent by someone else.
They're a U.S. citizen, resident alien, national, or a Canadian or Mexican resident.
They aren’t filing a joint return with their spouse.
They're under the age of 19 (or 24 for full-time students).

No age limit for permanently and totally disabled children.

They lived with you for more than half the year (exceptions apply).
They didn't provide more than half of their own support for the year.

Qualifying relative

They don't have to be related to you (despite the name).
They aren't claimed as a dependent by someone else.
They're a U.S. citizen, resident alien, national, or a Canadian or Mexican resident.
They aren’t filing a joint return with their spouse.
They lived with you the entire year (exceptions apply).
They made less than $4,300 in 2021.
You provided more than half of their financial support.

When you add someone as a dependent, we'll ask a series of questions to make sure you can claim them. There may be other tax benefits you can get when you claim a dependent.

Related Information: