turbotax icon
cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 
turbotax icon
cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 
Close icon
Do you have a TurboTax Online account?

We'll help you get started or pick up where you left off.

Adult dependent

If my adult child qualifies as my dependent and works part time. Should/can he file his own taxes at the beginning of the year as exempt, or even at all?

x
Do you have an Intuit account?

Do you have an Intuit account?

You'll need to sign in or create an account to connect with an expert.

2 Replies

Adult dependent

No, your adult child should not say he is "exempt."   He should complete a W-4 for his employers.   If tax is withheld from his income, he can file a tax return at tax time to seek a refund.  If you can claim him as a dependent then he is required to say on his own return that someone else can claim him.

**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**
FranklinF
Employee Tax Expert

Adult dependent

Firstly, if you adult son is unmarried :


Regarding the requirements for claiming full-time college student as your qualifying child for EIC purposes, the student must be:

  • Less than 24 years of age and be a full-time student for five months during the year (also, your dependent college-student child must be younger than you or your spouse if married filing jointly)
  • Your son, daughter, stepson, stepdaughter, or eligible foster child; your brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, half brother, or half sister; a descendent of one of those listed above
  • A U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or U.S. resident

    In addition:
  • NOT file a joint return, unless that return is only to claim a refund
  • Have a valid Social Security number (SSN)
  • NOT have any other person claiming college student on their taxes for the EIC.


If your adult son is NOT a full time college student, then you may claim him/her as a qualifying relative.

Your relative can't have a gross income of more than $4,700 in 2023 and be claimed by you as a dependent. This threshold increases to $5,050 for 2024. Certain income is excluded from this requirement such as all or part of Social Security benefits.


Lastly, if your adult son qualifies as a dependent on your tax return, he can still file his own taxes as a dependent to get a refund while you file your own taxes including your adult son as a dependent.

**Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post
**Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"

message box icon

Get more help

Ask questions and learn more about your taxes and finances.

Post your Question
Manage cookies