College Student Dependent or Not Dependent

[ledettmsm]

My offspring was a graduate student from Jan 2023 to May of 2023 and graduated the same month (May 2023).  Form 1098-T has Box 8 checked.  Full-time employment was started in August of 2023.  How do I determine whether, my child is a dependent for tax purposes? 

[taxlady28]

Would need to be age 24 or younger at end of 2023.

[DawnC]

If he made over $4700 in 2023, you can't claim him as a dependent unless he was under age 24 as of Dec 31, 2023.   If he was 24 or over, and had more than $4700 of income, he cannot be claimed by anyone.    Who can I claim as a dependent?     

A qualifying child can make any amount of money - but his age matters

A qualifying relative cannot make more than $4700

[ledettmsm]

To clarify "he cannot be claimed by anyone", does not refer to the "he"?  Stated differently, the individual would file as single head of household filing their own taxes for  Tax Year 2023. 

[DawnC]

If you cannot claim your son, yes, he would file his own tax return.  He will indicate whether he is married or unmarried.   If he is unmarried, TurboTax will ask him the Head of Household questions to determine if he can use that filing status.  You can qualify for Head of Household if you:

1. Were unmarried as of December 31, 2023, and
2. Paid more than half the cost to run your (or a qualifying parent's) home this year (rent, mortgage, utilities, etc.) and
3. Supported a qualifying person.

If he is unmarried and doesn't qualify for Head of Household, his filing status would just be Single.  

[Mike9241]

use IRS website where you can check to see if he qualifies as a dependent

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