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New Member
posted Mar 12, 2025 7:56:44 PM

Confused on how to file/claim for my daughter who was a dependent in school at a University for half of last year, but then got married right after graduation.

My daughter was a full time student at a University for Spring 2024 graduating at the end of May.  We paid for her education costs but also got some financial aid and loans.  She then got married soon after graduating.  So how do I decide if I should claim her in order to have all the education stuff under my filing, or have her file married filing separately or jointly and mark that no one can claim her?  Is there something that can help me decide the best route to take?

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1 Replies
Expert Alumni
Mar 13, 2025 9:39:04 AM

You can claim your married dependent as long as she is not filling her own return, not filling married filling joint, and qualifies as your dependent. Exceptions apply. She will have to meet other tests such as:

 

  • Relationship Test: Your child can be your son, daughter, stepchild, eligible foster child, brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, stepbrother, stepsister, adopted child or an offspring of any of them.
  • Age requirement: Must be under age 19 or, if a full-time student, under age 24, or permanently and totally disabled.
  • Residency: Must live with you for more than half the year. Exceptions apply.
  • Financial Support: She did not provide more than half of her own support

For additional information see the link below 

 

Rules for Claiming Dependents on Taxes

 

https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/family/rules-for-claiming-a-dependent-on-your-tax-return/L8LODbx94#:~:text=You%20generally%20can%27t%20claim%20someone%20who%27s%20married%20and%20files%20a%20joint%20tax%20return.%20Say%20you%20support%20your%20married%20teenage%20son.%20If%20he%20files%20a%20joint%20return%20with%20his%20spouse%2C%20you%20likely%20can%27t%20claim%20him%20as%20a%20dependent.