topic Re: Not a dependent in Deductions & credits

Not a dependent

jharter — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 04:46:21 GMT

My daughter is 22 in 2021. She is a full time student. We provide 100% of her support/expenses. She made ~$700 of earned income. She is the child of both parents. She is not adopted. She cannot be claimed by anyone else as a dependent. When I complete the questions in TurboTax the result is that TurboTax designates her "Not a Dependent." I have tried deleting her and re-doing the questions. She is our dependent. How can I fix this? Thanks. I am using the downloadable TurboTax for self-employed.

Re: Not a dependent

xmasbaby0 — Sun, 27 Feb 2022 16:49:40 GMT

Why do you think you cannot claim her as a dependent? She is under the age of 24, a full-time student, she earned very little and you supported her. She is a qualified child dependent. You have answered something incorrectly. Delete her from My Info and go back to enter her again. Make sure you say she is a full-time student in My Info. Go through those screens carefully again.

You should get the $500 credit for other dependents for claiming her and you are the one who can get an education credit. If you did not receive a $1400 stimulus for claiming her already, then you should also get that.

Re: Not a dependent

jharter — Sun, 27 Feb 2022 17:07:01 GMT

I do think I can claim her as I have each previous year. However, TurboTax designates her "Not a Dependent" in the review box after I complete all the questions which I have verified multiple times.

Incidentally, I had started my 2021 1040 previously and saved it elsewhere. I opened it, with all the same demographic information, and TurboTax designated her "Dependent." As a practical matter, I will simply use that file going forward but it is maddening that I get that apparent error this time around.

Re: Not a dependent

xmasbaby0 — Sun, 27 Feb 2022 17:13:49 GMT

Sometimes people answer something incorrectly and have a really hard time finding their mistake. If you answered that her SSN was not valid for employment that would mess you up if you clicked it accidentally. We have seen that one a few times. Or if you accidentally said she paid for over half her own support---it is an oddly worded and often misunderstood question to which you need to say NO.

Re: Not a dependent

jharter — Sun, 27 Feb 2022 17:46:17 GMT

Thanks for the info. I did double check all those things. Then deleted the dependent, re-entered and double checked. Still "Not a Dependent." You must be right but I just can't see it I guess.

Re: Not a dependent

xmasbaby0 — Sun, 27 Feb 2022 17:49:33 GMT

How frustrating.....ugh!

Try customer support:

To call TurboTax customer support

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1899263-what-is-the-turbotax-phone-number

Customer support is available from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Pacific time daily

Re: Not a dependent

SteamTrain — Sun, 27 Feb 2022 18:01:04 GMT

You did also indicate she lived with you all year, didn't you?

Being away at college is considered temporarily....and is thus still considered living with you all year.