No. Since they are both under 19, whether or not they are students will not change how they affect your tax return. The student designation would matter if they were 19 or older.
The 15 year old would still be eligible for the Child Tax Credit and the 17 year old would still be eligible for the $500 Non-Refundable Other Dependent Credit
The following criteria must be met to claim someone as a qualifying child:
- Your child (including adopted and foster children), your sibling, or a descendent of any of them.
- Age 18 or younger at the end of the tax year OR under 24 (and younger than you and your spouse) if they are a full-time student or any age if they are totally and permanently disabled
- Lived with you for more than 6 months during the tax year
- They did not provide more than half of their own support (social security does not count)
- They did not file a joint return, unless it was to claim a refund
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