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Nicloc
Returning Member

Should I claim my son as a dependent

My 18 year old son graduated high school in May 2021 and left for basic training with the army June 6,2021. Can I still claim him as a dependent 

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1 Reply
Hal_Al
Level 15

Should I claim my son as a dependent

Yes. Military basic training (and advanced individual training) is considered a temporary  absence from your home.  So, for tax purposes, he did live with you for more than half the year.  The fact that he graduated in May means he also meets the full time student for parts of 5 months rule. 

 

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, 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 or military training) for more than half the year

So, it doesn't matter how much he earned. What matters is how much he spent on support. Money he put into savings does not count as support he spent on him self.

The support value of the home, provided by the parent, is the fair market rental value of the home plus utilities & other expenses divided by the number of occupants.

The IRS has a worksheet that can be used to help with the support calculation. See: http://apps.irs.gov/app/vita/content/globalmedia/teacher/worksheet_for_determining_support_4012.pdf

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