If my daughter is 17 years old and too old for the child credit, can I claim her as a dependent, and does it help?

[Bsch4477]

Yes, you can get other child tax credit if $500.

[MonikaK1]

Yes, you can still claim your 17-year-old daughter and get the Other Dependent Credit if otherwise qualified.

See this article for more information on qualified dependents.

[Phil999]

From IRS:

To meet the qualifying child test, your child must be younger than you and either younger than 19 years old or be a "student" younger than 24 years old as of the end of the calendar year

----and Yes, it usually makes a difference depending on your overall situation.

[Hal_Al]

In addition to the (up to) $500 other dependent credit, a "qualifying child" dependent, over 16, qualifies you for the extra, child based, Earned Income Credit.

There are two types of dependents, "Qualifying Children"(QC) and Other ("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, student status, a relationship test and residence test.

A child of a taxpayer can still be a “Qualifying Child” (QC) dependent, regardless of his/her income, if:

1. He is under age 19, or under 24 if a full time student for at least 5 months of the year, or is totally & permanently disabled
2. He did not provide more than 1/2 his own support. Scholarships are excluded from the support calculation
3. He lived with the parent (including temporary absences such as away at school) for more than half the year

Both "Qualifying Children"(QC), over 16, and ("Qualifying Relative" get you the $500 Other dependent credit.