Can we claim our daughter as dependent if she was a full time college student Jan 24 to May 2024, and married in July 24?

[DawnC]

Maybe.  To meet the qualifying-child test, she must:

• Be under age 19 on Dec. 31, 2024, or under age 24 and a full-time student
• Have lived with you for more than half the year
• Not have provided more than half of her own support
• Not be filing a joint return unless they’re only filing to claim a refund of taxes withheld.   Also, there would be no tax liability for either she or her spouse if filing separate returns.

If she filed a joint return with her husband, you must find out if they filed only to claim a refund of all taxes withheld.  If not, she doesn’t qualify as your dependent.

If you supported her, enter her information into TurboTax, go through the dependent interview, and TurboTax will confirm whether or not you can claim her.  

[xmasbaby0]

That's a tricky one.   If she and her spouse file a joint return you cannot claim her.   If the newlyweds file married filing separately, then you could still claim your daughter as a dependent.   Her own return would have to say that she can be claimed as someone else's dependent, and her spouse's return would also have to indicate that his spouse can be claimed as someone else's dependent.

If you claim her, you get the $500 credit for other dependents and perhaps education credits.   

If they file MFS --- they cannot get earned income credit or education credits on their own returns.   

There are other disadvantage to filing MFS, which may or may not affect them at this stage of their marriage.

If you were legally married at the end of 2024 your filing choices are married filing jointly or married filing separately.

Married Filing Jointly is usually better, even if one spouse had little or no income. When you file a joint return, you and your spouse will get the married filing jointly standard deduction of $29,200 (+ $1550 for each spouse 65 or older)  for 2024. You are eligible for more credits including education credits, earned income credit, child and dependent care credit, and a larger income limit to receive the child tax credit. 

If you choose to file married filing separately, both spouses have to file the same way—either you both itemize or you both use standard deduction. Your tax rate will be higher than on a joint return.

 Some of the special rules for filing separately include: you cannot get earned income credit, education credits, adoption credits, or deductions for student loan interest. A higher percent of your Social Security benefits may be taxable. Your limit for SALT (state and local taxes and sales tax) will be only $5000 per spouse. In many cases you will not be able to take the child and dependent care credit. The amount you can contribute to a retirement account will be affected. If you live in a community property state, you will be required to provide additional information regarding your spouse’s income. ( Community property states:  AZ, CA, ID, LA, NV, NM, TX, WA, WI)

 If  you are using online TurboTax to prepare your returns, you will need to prepare two separate returns and pay twice since with online, you get one return per fee.

https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/marriage/should-you-and-your-spouse-file-taxes-jointly-or-separ...

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/income/getting-married-mean-taxes/L2Rgma...

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/taxation/married-filing-separately-commu...