Should I claim my son who also files form 2555

[ffoltyn]

Hello,

I file a form 2555 and now my son who has a job has a form 2555.  Should I still claim him as he went to college and he is 20 this year so it would qualify him, so that I could claim him.  Would it negatively impact my taxes if I add him?  

[DaveF1006]

No, it shouldn't negatively impact you. If he qualifies to be your dependent, he will file his own tax return and report in the return that he is a dependent of some else. He will then file and report his own 2555.

[ffoltyn]

Thank you Dave,

I was thinking that I would just add his w2 to my taxes and claim him and process the 2555 under my filing.  The reason is that I could still claim him as he was going to college during the year.  Let me know if I am off and thanks in advance.

Frank

[DaveF1006]

It depends. I still recommend for him to file his own return.  In fact, the IRS states in Publication 929, that if the income is more than $12,550, he/she must file his own tax return. Also, with the addition of form 2555, it may be difficult for you to file this return in your own tax return. I still would recommend for him to file his own tax return, indicate he is a dependent of someone else, and then you can still claim him as a dependent based on his college attendance.