At what age can I no longer claim my son as a dependent?

Asked by: Marilou Dicki  |  Last update: November 14, 2025
Score: 4.8/5 (73 votes)

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

When should I stop claiming my son as a dependent?

AGE: The child must be younger than you (or your spouse if filing jointly), AND at the end of the tax year, your child must have been under age 19 (or under 24 if a full-time student). There is no age limit if your child is permanently and totally disabled.

Can I still claim my 18 year old as a dependent if they work?

Yes, a child under age 19 or a full time student under age 24 can still be claimed as a dependent regardless of the amount of income she has.

At what age does my child no longer qualify as a dependent?

Can they claim an exemption for me as a dependent or qualifying child on their tax return? Share: It's possible, but once you're over age 24, you can no longer be claimed as a qualifying child. The only exception to this is if you're permanently and totally disabled.

Can I claim my 26 year old son as a dependent?

The tax filer may claim relatives, in-laws, or full-time members of the household as tax dependents. There is no age limit for being claimed as a qualifying relative.

Is there an age limit on claiming my child as a dependent? | 2 Minute Accountant

25 related questions found

Is it better not to claim my college student as a dependent?

Cons of Claiming a College Student as a Dependent

If your child has earned income and you claim them as a dependent, they lose the opportunity to claim their own personal exemption (when applicable in future years) and certain tax credits that could be more advantageous for them.

How much money can my child make and still be claimed as a dependent?

The child must have lived with you for more than half of the year.2 3. The person's gross income for the year must be less than $4,300.3 Gross income means all income the person received in the form of money, goods, property and services, that isn't exempt from tax.

At what age does a child no longer qualify as a taxpayer for the Child Tax Credit?

You can claim the Child Tax Credit for each qualifying child who has a Social Security number that is valid for employment in the United States. To be a qualifying child for the 2024 tax year, your dependent generally must: Be under 17 at the end of the tax year.

What are the IRS rules for claiming a college student as a dependent?

Qualifying child

Age: Be under age 19 or under 24 if a full-time student, or any age if permanently and totally disabled. Residency: Live with you for more than half the year, with some exceptions. Support: Get more than half their financial support from you.

At what age can you not be dependent?

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

Can I claim my son as a dependent if he works and file taxes?

Here's the short answer: The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will usually let you claim your child if they work or earn an income, no matter the dependent's income source, if certain requirements are met.

Is it better not to claim a child as a dependent?

Good Reasons

If your income disqualifies you from claiming these credits, your child's income probably doesn't disqualify him or her. Therefore, your child may be able to report payment of education expenses for tax purposes and then claim one of the credits – but only if you don't claim him or her as a dependent.

What is considered a full-time student for taxes?

Yes, your child may be claimed as a dependent if age 19 or a full-time student under age 24 at the end of the year. To be considered a full-time student, the child must be enrolled for the number of hours or courses the school considers to be full time and must be a student for at least five months during the year.

Can I claim my 18 year old as a dependent if they work?

You can claim a child who works as a dependent if they still meet the requirements to be a qualifying child – including the age, relationship, residency, and support tests.

Why do you lose child tax credit at age 17?

Now, a question arises: why does the Child Tax Credit cease when the child attains the age of 17? Though it may appear random, the logic behind this lies in societal norms that align 17 with the coming-of-age stage. This age has typically marked the end of school and the start of either higher education or employment.

Can I claim my child's college tuition on my taxes?

Yes, you are not required to claim the credit for a particular year. If your child's college does not consider your child to have completed the first four years of college at the beginning of 2024, you can qualify to take the credit for up to four tax years.

When should I stop claiming my college student as a dependent?

You must stop claiming your college student as a dependent once they are 24 years old or older, or if they start filing their own taxes jointly with a spouse.

When can I no longer claim my child as a dependent?

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

Is it better for a college student to claim themselves?

The only way for you to receive credits and deductions on your tax returns is by filing independently as a college student providing more than half of your own financial support.

At what age does a child stop qualifying for earned income credit?

Age – They must be younger than the taxpayer and either a) under the age of 19 at the end of the tax year, or b) under the age of 24 if a full-time student for at least 5 months of the year. A permanently and totally disabled child may be included at any age.

Can I claim my 25 year old son as a dependent?

There is no age limit for how long you can claim adult children or other relatives as dependents, but they must meet other IRS requirements to continue to qualify. Additionally, once they are over 18 and no longer a student, they can only qualify as an "other dependent," not a qualifying child.

Can I claim my 17 year old for child tax credit?

Dependents eligible for this credit include children ages 17–18 or those 19–24 and in school full time in at least five months of the year. Also included are older dependents—representing about 6 percent of dependents eligible for the CTC. After 2025, the CTC is scheduled to revert to its pre-TCJA form.

What is the cut-off age for child tax credit?

1) Age test - For these tax years, a child must have been under age 17 (i.e., 16 years old or younger) at the end of the tax year for which you claim the credit. 2) Relationship test - The child must be your own child, a stepchild, or a foster child placed with you by a court or authorized agency.

What are the disadvantages of claiming a parent as dependent?

The downsides of claiming parents as dependents
  • More financial responsibility: To claim a parent as a dependent, you must cover more than half of their financial support. ...
  • Sibling restrictions: Do you share the expenses of caring for a parent with a sibling?

What is the penalty for filing head of household while married?

What's the penalty for filing as head of household while married? There's no tax penalty for filing as head of household while you're married. But you could be subject to a failure-to-pay penalty of any amount that results from using the other filing status.