My daughter is 21, a full-time student, and we pay over 50% of her expenses. Why am I getting she doesn't qualify as dependent message?

[tmpafford]

Why does my daughter not qualify as a dependent when she is a full time student and we pay her expenses

[DianeW777 · Accepted solution]

It depends. Be sure you have answered all the questions correctly as you go through the entries when you go to 'My Info', then click beside her name to review. The qualifications are shown below. One key is that she must NOT have provided more than half of her own support. Click the link below for more details.

You can claim a child, relative, friend, fiancé(e), and so on as a dependent on your 2025 taxes as long as they meet the following requirements:

Qualifying child:

• They're related to you.
• They aren't claimed as a dependent by someone else.
• They're a US citizen, resident alien, national, or a Canadian or Mexican resident.
• They aren’t filing a joint return with their spouse.
• They're under the age of 19 (or 24 for full-time students).
• There's no age limit for permanently and totally disabled children.
• They lived with you for more than half the year (exceptions apply).
• They didn't provide more than half of their own support for the year.
  • Who can I claim as my dependent?

[user17729231506]

My daughter was a full-time student and age 21. We have fully supported all her expenses. I chose the option that she lived with us. Still, Turbotax says not my daughter is not eligible for 2025.

[DianeW777]

It sounds like you may have missed a question in your dependent section for your daughter. 

All the qualifiers noted above are asked in the interview. One of the key questions is whether she provided more than half of her own support. Follow the questions below to be sure you answered them the way you intended.

• How many months lived with you - away at college counts as living with you
• How many months in the US > Continue
• None apply (disabled, passed) > Continue
• Not married > Continue
• Select legal parents > Continue
• Full time Student > Yes > Continue
• No - Daughter did NOT pay more than half of her living expenses
• No - another relative did not live in your home and help with her support > Continue

@user17729231506