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New Member
posted May 31, 2019 4:51:56 PM

How do I claim my 17 year old child?

On Turbo Tax it says I cannot claim my son because he is 17 yet it says I can claim him if under 19.  Where do I claim him?  I do not get a tax credit if I enter his information for children.

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1 Best answer
Level 3
May 31, 2019 4:51:57 PM

The child tax credit is only for dependents who are under the age of 17 at the end of the tax year. If your child turned 17 during 2014, then you can no longer receive child tax credit on your tax return for the child.

However, the child should still be your qualifying dependent on the tax return as long as that child meets the definition for qualifying child dependent. You still receive the personal exemption deduction for that child.

15 Replies
Level 3
May 31, 2019 4:51:57 PM

The child tax credit is only for dependents who are under the age of 17 at the end of the tax year. If your child turned 17 during 2014, then you can no longer receive child tax credit on your tax return for the child.

However, the child should still be your qualifying dependent on the tax return as long as that child meets the definition for qualifying child dependent. You still receive the personal exemption deduction for that child.

New Member
May 31, 2019 4:52:03 PM

Thank you! I just went through again at a much slower pace and thing I finally got that too. Thank you again!

Level 3
May 31, 2019 4:52:05 PM

You are very welcome.

New Member
May 31, 2019 4:52:06 PM

Very helpful. I was about to start calling somebody

New Member
May 31, 2019 4:52:08 PM

why 17 though? seems odd. cant vote and isnt a legal age

Level 1
May 31, 2019 4:52:10 PM

My child still in school.  So they shouldn't passed that law . I should still get it as long as he's in school .

New Member
May 31, 2019 4:52:11 PM

Yea, we still pay for everything of his why can't we still get the child credit? Teens are more expensive then babies anyway.

New Member
May 31, 2019 4:52:12 PM

This is bs!!!!

New Member
May 31, 2019 4:52:14 PM

YES BS!!!

Level 15
May 31, 2019 4:52:17 PM

If your child turned 17 in 2016, even on the last day of 2016, you do not get the child tax credit.  There are no exceptions to the rule.  You can still claim your child as a dependent.

Level 15
May 31, 2019 4:52:18 PM

Sorry that's the rule.  Complain to your congressman.

The Child had to be UNDER 17 on Dec31 to get the Child Tax Credit.  But the year she/he was born you got the Child Tax Credit for the whole year, not just after they were born.  So it evens out.

New Member
May 31, 2019 4:52:20 PM

or each dependent  in dependent detail in a return, if the eligible for child tax credit is checked then that dependent age must be under 17

New Member
May 31, 2019 4:52:20 PM

So how do I claim my child who just turned 18, who is still in high school and dependent on me when turbo tax say it's not allowed. What do I do on turbo tax?

Level 1
Feb 20, 2025 7:56:15 AM

no really, bc we adopted 15mn. old-I am with others they are not legal to be on their own prior to age 18 so it should also go to age 19 if the kiddo does not finish high school until age 19, rarely have we ever seen a penny from what feels like a scam meaning either give back x number of dollars or don't and if you don't own anything then roll it to another year, and BS if you make too much

Level 15
Feb 20, 2025 8:01:32 AM

@test23 You posted to a very old thread that has had no activity since 2019.  We do not know what your specific issue is in regard to claiming your dependent.    You lose the child tax credit when the child turns 17, but you can still claim your child as a dependent for the $500 credit for other dependents until the year they turn 19 or until they turn 24 if they are full-time students.  Do you have some other questions about claiming a dependent?