Independent child never got my taxes this year even took kid off cause he had a job he just graduated from high school but I paid for all cap gown clothes all I'm a single parent

[carolineb]

Hi @Boothsng60, 

Your child can still be claimed as your dependent if they meet these IRS requirements:

• They’re related to you by blood, adoption, or you foster them
• They’re under age 19 (or a full-time student under 24)  
• They rely on you for more than half of their financial support 
• They live with you for more than half of the year (with some exceptions)
• They’re a US citizen or resident alien, and they have a Social Security number at the time you file your return
• They’re not filing a joint tax return (if your dependent is married)

If your child still qualifies as your dependent, he would file a dependent taxpayer return in order to report his wage income and possibly get a refund, and you would claim him as a dependent on your return. You have up to three years to amend his and your returns in order to make this change if applicable. 

[DashonnonH]

In Addition, if your child qualifies as your dependent and you pay for more than 1/2 the cost of keeping up your home for you and your child, you are Head of Household filing status on your tax return.

Your child my even file his own tax return, but you can still claim him as a qualifying child dependent with Head of Household filing status as long as he meets the dependent requirements below. 

Qualifying child

To qualify as a dependent, a child must also pass these tests:

• Relationship: Be your son, daughter, stepchild, eligible foster child, brother, sister, half-sister or -brother, stepbrother, stepsister, adopted child or the child of one of these
• Age: Be under age 19 or under 24 if a full-time student, or any age if permanently and totally disabled
• Residency: Live with you for more than half the year, with some exceptions
• Support: Get more than half their financial support from you
• Joint return: Not file as married filing jointly unless only to claim a refund of taxes paid or withheld

Below are interactive tools where you can answer a few questions and helps you decide if you qualify.

https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/whom-may-i-claim-as-a-dependent

https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/what-is-my-filing-status