Should I claim my daughter who attends grad school or should she claim herself?

[SKelly8]

Would it be more beneficial for my 22 year old daughter who attends grad school full time to claim herself than it would be for parent to claim her?

[TomD8 · Accepted solution]

If you CAN claim her (if she meets the criteria to be claimed as your dependent), then she CAN'T claim herself - regardless of whether or not you actually do claim her.

If you CAN claim her, make sure she indicates on her own return that someone else can claim her as a dependent.  If she's using TurboTax, she would indicate that in the Personal Info section.

[SKelly8]

If I don't put her on my return as a dependent, is it more beneficial to her?

[TomD8]

No - because the only issue for her is whether or not you CAN claim her.  If you CAN claim her, it's no help to her whether you actually do so or not.