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Does my son have to go to college right away, in order for me to claim him as a dependant, or can he wait a year before going to college?

 
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Does my son have to go to college right away, in order for me to claim him as a dependant, or can he wait a year before going to college?

Depending on his age, income or student status you can claim him as a dependent either under the Qualifying Child rules or the Qualifying Relative rules if he meets all the requirements.

To be a Qualifying Child -

1. The child must be your son, daughter, stepchild, foster child, brother, sister, half brother, half sister, stepbrother, stepsister, or a descendant of any of them.

2. The child must be (a) under age 19 at the end of the year, (b) under age 24 at the end of the year and a full-time student or (c) any age and permanently and totally disabled.

3. The child must have lived with you for more than half of the year. Temporary absences while away at college are considered living with you.

4. The child must not have provided more than half of his or her own support for the year.

5. If the child meets the rules to be a qualifying child of more than one person, you must be the person entitled to claim the child as a qualifying child. 

6. The child must be a U.S. citizen or U.S., Canada or Mexico resident for some portion of the year.

7. The child must be younger than you unless disabled.

To be a Qualifying Relative -

1. The person cannot be your qualifying child or the qualifying child of any other taxpayer. A child is not the qualifying child of any other taxpayer if the child's parent (or any other person for whom the child is defined as a qualifying child) is not required to file an income tax return or files an income tax return only to get a refund on income tax withheld.

2. The person either (a) must be related to you or (b) must live with you all year as a member of your household. 

3. The person's gross income for the year must be less than $4,150 (social security does not count) in 2018

4. You must provide more than half of the person's total support for the year.

5. The person must be a U.S. citizen or a U.S., Canada, or Mexico resident for some part of the year.

6. The person must not file a joint return with their spouse.

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5 Replies

Does my son have to go to college right away, in order for me to claim him as a dependant, or can he wait a year before going to college?

Depending on his age, income or student status you can claim him as a dependent either under the Qualifying Child rules or the Qualifying Relative rules if he meets all the requirements.

To be a Qualifying Child -

1. The child must be your son, daughter, stepchild, foster child, brother, sister, half brother, half sister, stepbrother, stepsister, or a descendant of any of them.

2. The child must be (a) under age 19 at the end of the year, (b) under age 24 at the end of the year and a full-time student or (c) any age and permanently and totally disabled.

3. The child must have lived with you for more than half of the year. Temporary absences while away at college are considered living with you.

4. The child must not have provided more than half of his or her own support for the year.

5. If the child meets the rules to be a qualifying child of more than one person, you must be the person entitled to claim the child as a qualifying child. 

6. The child must be a U.S. citizen or U.S., Canada or Mexico resident for some portion of the year.

7. The child must be younger than you unless disabled.

To be a Qualifying Relative -

1. The person cannot be your qualifying child or the qualifying child of any other taxpayer. A child is not the qualifying child of any other taxpayer if the child's parent (or any other person for whom the child is defined as a qualifying child) is not required to file an income tax return or files an income tax return only to get a refund on income tax withheld.

2. The person either (a) must be related to you or (b) must live with you all year as a member of your household. 

3. The person's gross income for the year must be less than $4,150 (social security does not count) in 2018

4. You must provide more than half of the person's total support for the year.

5. The person must be a U.S. citizen or a U.S., Canada, or Mexico resident for some part of the year.

6. The person must not file a joint return with their spouse.

Hal_Al
Level 15

Does my son have to go to college right away, in order for me to claim him as a dependant, or can he wait a year before going to college?

Under age 24 at the end of the year and a full-time student  FOR PARTS OF AT LEAST 5 MONTHS.  Typically one semester qualifies (Jan-May or Aug-Dec). A summer session would not.

Does my son have to go to college right away, in order for me to claim him as a dependant, or can he wait a year before going to college?

Thank You!!

Does my son have to go to college right away, in order for me to claim him as a dependant, or can he wait a year before going to college?

What will he do?  Work?  If he is not a full time student you can claim him if he makes less than $4,150 total for the year.

Does my son have to go to college right away, in order for me to claim him as a dependant, or can he wait a year before going to college?

Thank  You!!
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