My son is Autistic. When asked is he disabled in my tax return do i click yes or no?

[AnnaB · Accepted solution]

Whether or not your autistic dependent, spouse or yourself, is considered disabled depends on their level of functioning.

The IRS defines disability as permanently and totally disabled.  The person in question must meet the following two requirements to meet this definition:

1. He or she cannot engage in any substantial gainful activity because of a physical or mental condition and
2. A doctor determines the condition has lasted or can be expected to last continuously for at least a year or can lead to death.

The good news, for a child dependent, it likely doesn't impact your tax situation depending on the age of your child.  You can continue to claim your child or other eligible dependent as a qualifying child dependent until age 18, or age 23 if a full-time student.

The disability qualification takes away the age limitation for the qualifying child dependent test.

[Poincare]

Neither of these replies answer the question.  I am in the same boat: my son is 2.5 years old and was diagnosed with autism at 1 year old.  These replies are useless because they do not help Turbotax users faced with this question to answer either yes or no.  

[DoninGA]

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@Poincare wrote:

Neither of these replies answer the question.  I am in the same boat: my son is 2.5 years old and was diagnosed with autism at 1 year old.  These replies are useless because they do not help Turbotax users faced with this question to answer either yes or no.  

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Click on Yes.  However, being disabled and under the age of 19 does not have any effect on your tax return.

[xmasbaby0]

@Poincare There are no special credits or deductions to be had by saying your child is disabled unless the child is over 12 and you need to use the childcare credit beyond the age that the credit is normally allowed for parent who must pay for childcare so they can work.    If you have had any medical expenses or testing expenses, etc. enter those as medical expenses.