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New Member
posted Jun 6, 2019 3:42:10 AM

My Son was 26 in 2016. He didn't work the whole year 2016 Can I claim him as a dependent?

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2 Replies
Level 15
Jun 6, 2019 3:42:13 AM

You may be able to claim him as a dependent on your tax return under the Qualifying Relative rules if he meets all the requirements.

To be a Qualifying Relative -

1. The person cannot be your qualifying child or the qualifying child of any other taxpayer. A child is not the qualifying child of any other taxpayer if the child's parent (or any other person for whom the child is defined as a qualifying child) is not required to file an income tax return or files an income tax return only to get a refund on income tax withheld.

2. The person either (a) must be related to you or (b) must live with you all year as a member of your household. 

3. The person's gross income for the year must be less than $4,050 (social security does not count) in 2017

4. You must provide more than half of the person's total support for the year.

5. The person must be a U.S. citizen or a U.S., Canada, or Mexico resident for some part of the year.

6. The person must not file a joint return with their spouse.

Level 15
Jun 6, 2019 3:42:14 AM

There are two types of dependents, "Qualifying Children"(QC) and standard ("Qualifying Relative" in IRS parlance even though they don't have to actually be related). There is no income limit for a QC but there is an age limit, a relationship test and a residence test. Only a QC qualifies a taxpayer for the Earned Income Credit.

Your son is too old to be a QC.