Should I include a dependent with income on my return?

Forum|Forum|3 years ago
December 28, 2022
2 replies
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We are in a high tax bracket. Our son graduated college, and got a well paying job. But he works from our home, and we pay all his bills. Should we continue to include him as a dependent, or let him file his own? If we claim him as a dependent, do we have to include his income, or can he still file separately for his income?

TurboTax Online

Best answer by VolvoGirl

If he was not a student in 2022 you can not claim him. And if he made over $4,400 for the whole year, not just per month. He will have to file his own return and he claims himself. Double check with your CPA friend, that seems wrong.

xmasbaby0

Level 15

Do you mean your son graduated from college in 2022? The year of graduation is tricky. How old was he at the end of 2022? Did he earn over $4400 in 2022? Provide a few more details about your son.

**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.**

Bsch4477

Level 15

Since he is not a student and earns more than $4,400 you can’t claim him as a dependent even though you provide more than half of his support. He files his own return.

kerkarAuthor

Level 3

Thanks. He graduated college in 2021, and has worked in 2022. A CPA friend had told me that we can claim him on our tax return, and he can file his own with zero exemptions (if it is the right word) - that seemed confusing to me in the sense would that reduce overall tax liability (we pay less in higher tax bracket, he pays more in lower tax bracket)? But it looks like that is not even an option since he earns way more than $4,400 per month.

NCperson

Level 15

@kerkar - if you child was not in school during 2022 and earned more than $4400, you can not claim him. it is that simple

you can verify that using the official IRS dependent tool .

https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/whom-may-i-claim-as-a-dependent

the use of the word "exemptions" ceased when the tax laws changed in 2018. (It may come back in 2026, so I wouldn't rip it out of your dictionary just yet!)