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posted Jun 4, 2019 4:01:14 PM

Can I claim my daughter as a dependant if she graduated from college in May 2016 and started attending graduate school in August of the same year? She is 23 years old

Can I claim her if she files and claims herself. She says I can't because it will cause problems with her loans

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1 Best answer
Expert Alumni
Jun 4, 2019 4:01:15 PM

Maybe.

Does she provide more than half of her own support for the year (education, medical, food, clothes, housing, travel, recreation, etc)? While her age, student status, and relationship to you are in your favor, you cannot claim a dependent if that person is providing more than half of their own support. That support would include loans.

Does she still live with you, and if not, is her living situation a temporary one due to school?

Loans are unrelated to taxes, but if her loans are based on her income, that means she is presumed to be independent. If you claim her as a dependent, your income will likely be taken into account. Yes, that could cause problems with her loans.

You don't file incorrectly because of loans, but you do want to make sure that you actually qualify to claim her.

https://www.irs.gov/uac/who-can-i-claim-as-a-dependent

1 Replies
Expert Alumni
Jun 4, 2019 4:01:15 PM

Maybe.

Does she provide more than half of her own support for the year (education, medical, food, clothes, housing, travel, recreation, etc)? While her age, student status, and relationship to you are in your favor, you cannot claim a dependent if that person is providing more than half of their own support. That support would include loans.

Does she still live with you, and if not, is her living situation a temporary one due to school?

Loans are unrelated to taxes, but if her loans are based on her income, that means she is presumed to be independent. If you claim her as a dependent, your income will likely be taken into account. Yes, that could cause problems with her loans.

You don't file incorrectly because of loans, but you do want to make sure that you actually qualify to claim her.

https://www.irs.gov/uac/who-can-i-claim-as-a-dependent