for a dependent, the $5,200 earnings question isnt an accurate determinant of whether a child is a dependant or not when other factors suggest they are dependents?

[theflyingwilly]

Relationship Son/daughter. ✔ Pass Age Under 24 AND a full-time student for at least 5 months. ✔ Pass (21 and full-time) Residency Lived with you more than half the year. ✔ Living at home passes. Support Child did NOT provide more than half of their own support. ✔ You paid tuition and housing. Joint Return Not married filing jointly. ✔ Pass. The $5200 satisfies nothing other than the relative test not dependency?

[MelindaS1]

The figure comes from the IRS Publication #501 Dependents as a test to be a qualifying relative (vs a qualifying child): 

The person’s gross income for the year must be less than $5,200

CAUTION! If your gross income was $5,200 or more, you usually can’t be claimed as a dependent unless you are a qualifying child.

TurboTax is programmed to follow the IRS guidelines for dependents, both qualifying relatives and qualifying children.

Is there a more specific tax return problem you're having that we can help with?

[Bsch4477]

There are 2 types of dependencies. Your description is for a qualifying child. The $5,200 refers to a qualifying relative.