A dependent cannot claim to have a dependent of their own. Your daughter cannot get EIC if she can be claimed as someone else's dependent. Was she a full-time student in 2024? Or was she less than a half-time student? How old is she? You need to determine if she can be claimed as your qualifying child or qualifying relative. It is possible that you can also claim your grandchild as your own dependent.
If your daughter does not meet the criteria to be your qualifying child you cannot get EIC for claiming her.
If your daughter CAN be claimed as a dependent on someone else's tax return then she must say on her return that she can be claimed. It is possible that you will be able to claim both your daughter and her child as your dependents if you are supporting them.
Your daughter can file her own tax return to seek a refund of tax withheld as shown in box 2 or 17 of her W-2, but on her own return she needs to say she can be claimed as someone else's dependent.
If you choose to share any refundable child-related credit you receive like the EIC or additional child tax credit, that is up to you.
WHO CAN I CLAIM AS A DEPENDENT?
You can claim a child, relative, friend, or fiancé (etc.) as a dependent on your 2024 tax return 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 U.S. 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).
- 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.
Qualifying relative
- They don't have to be related to you (despite the name).
- They aren't claimed as a dependent by someone else.
- They're a U.S. citizen, resident alien, national, or a Canadian or Mexican resident.
- They aren’t filing a joint return with their spouse.
- They lived with you the entire year (exceptions apply).
- They made less than $5050 in 2024. (Not counting Social Security)
- You provided more than half of their financial support.
When you add someone as a dependent, we'll ask a series of questions to make sure you can claim them. There may be other tax benefits you can get when you claim a dependent.
Related Information:
**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**
