Child will turn 25 in 2025 and is a full-time graduate student at an expensive school. Interned in 2024 and made 40k, but we still help with her rent, tuition, food, utilities, etc at her apt near campus. Our help was appox more than half of her 2024 needs. TT will not allow me to claim her as a dependent...can I?
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Since she was age 24 in 2024 and had gross income of $5,050 or more, then no one can claim her as a dependent.
Since she is age 24, she cannot be claimed as a dependent under the Qualifying Child rules where her income is not relevant but providing over one-half of her own support is relevant.
She can only be claimed as a dependent under the Qualifying Relative rules, where having income of $5,050 or more disqualifies one from being a dependent.
To be a Qualifying Relative -
1. The person cannot be your qualifying child or the qualifying child of any other taxpayer. A child is not the qualifying child of any other taxpayer if the child's parent (or any other person for whom the child is defined as a qualifying child) is not required to file an income tax return or files an income tax return only to get a refund on income tax withheld.
2. The person either (a) must be related to you or (b) must live with you all year as a member of your household.
3. The person's gross income for the year must be less than $5,050 (social security does not count) in 2024
4. You must provide more than half of the person's total support for the year.
5. The person must be a U.S. citizen or a U.S., Canada, or Mexico resident for some part of the year.
6. The person must not file a joint return with their spouse with the following exception -
You can claim a person as a dependent who files a joint return if that person and that person’s spouse file the joint return only to claim a refund of income tax withheld or estimated tax paid.
Since she was age 24 in 2024 and had gross income of $5,050 or more, then no one can claim her as a dependent.
Since she is age 24, she cannot be claimed as a dependent under the Qualifying Child rules where her income is not relevant but providing over one-half of her own support is relevant.
She can only be claimed as a dependent under the Qualifying Relative rules, where having income of $5,050 or more disqualifies one from being a dependent.
To be a Qualifying Relative -
1. The person cannot be your qualifying child or the qualifying child of any other taxpayer. A child is not the qualifying child of any other taxpayer if the child's parent (or any other person for whom the child is defined as a qualifying child) is not required to file an income tax return or files an income tax return only to get a refund on income tax withheld.
2. The person either (a) must be related to you or (b) must live with you all year as a member of your household.
3. The person's gross income for the year must be less than $5,050 (social security does not count) in 2024
4. You must provide more than half of the person's total support for the year.
5. The person must be a U.S. citizen or a U.S., Canada, or Mexico resident for some part of the year.
6. The person must not file a joint return with their spouse with the following exception -
You can claim a person as a dependent who files a joint return if that person and that person’s spouse file the joint return only to claim a refund of income tax withheld or estimated tax paid.
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