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

Asked by: Kariane Flatley  |  Last update: December 24, 2025
Score: 4.5/5 (59 votes)

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 still claim my 25 year old 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.

At what age can you no longer claim a child 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 my parents claim me as a dependent if I am 25?

Make sure your dependent meets the IRS requirements. Generally, the IRS requires that the child is under the age of 19 (or under 24 if a full-time student), lives with you for more than half the year, and does not provide more than half of their own financial support.

What are the rules for claiming an adult dependent?

In general, an adult that you can claim as a dependent on your tax return is either a full-time student under the age of 24, a person who is permanently and totally disabled, or a parent that you support and/or care for.

Can you claim adults as dependents?

15 related questions found

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

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.

Can I claim my adult child that lives with me?

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.

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

You can stay on a parent's plan until you turn 26

Get married. Have or adopt a child. Start or leave school. Live in or out of your parent's home.

When should my parents stop claiming me as a dependent?

Yes, your parents can claim you as a dependent after the age of 18 indefinitely as long as you meet the qualifying household and financial support requirements.

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.

Who cannot be claimed as a dependent?

A person cannot be claimed as a dependent unless that person is a U.S. citizen, U.S. resident alien, U.S. national, or a resident of Canada or Mexico, for some part of the year. (There is an exception for certain adopted children.) A dependent must be either a qualifying child or qualifying relative.

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.

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.

At what age can you no longer claim a Dependant?

Once your child reaches the age of 18, they are considered an adult in the eyes of the IRS. However, if they are still a full-time student, you can continue to claim them as a dependent until they turn 24. Once they are no longer a full-time student, you must stop claiming them.

What is the tax credit for an adult dependent?

The maximum credit amount is $500 for each dependent who meets certain conditions. This credit can be claimed for: Dependents of any age, including those who are age 18 or older. Dependents who have Social Security numbers or Individual Taxpayer Identification numbers.

What if my parent claimed me as a dependent without my permission?

If the person who claimed you did so in error, they will need to file an amended return to remove you as a dependent. If the person who claimed you did so fraudulently, you may also need to contact the IRS to report identity theft.

Can I claim my 25 year old 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 to be claimed as dependent or independent?

If they financially provide you funds that are equal to or greater than half of your annual income, then you must file as dependent. Filing as an independent could result in more benefits, but you must meet IRS guidelines to avoid issues.

Can my college student file taxes if parents claim them?

If it's more than $11,000, your student will need to file their own tax return. If your student is employed, you should not claim their earned income on your return. If your student files their own tax return, you can still claim them as a dependent, but you shouldn't claim their income on your return.

What are the 6 requirements for claiming a child as a dependent?

Who is a qualifying child?
  • The child has to be part of your family. ...
  • The child has to be under a certain age. ...
  • The child has to live with you. ...
  • The child can't provide more than half of their own financial support. ...
  • The child can't file a joint tax return with someone.

What happens when my dependent turns 26?

Your child's coverage terminates at midnight when he/she turns age 26, subject to a free 31-day extension of coverage. To apply to continue your child's coverage beyond age 26 due to a disability, you must provide a medical certificate from your child's doctor.

Do I have to claim my child as a dependent if they are on my insurance?

Do my parents have to claim me as a tax dependent for me to be on their health plan to age 26? No. You do not need to be a tax dependent of your parents to continue to be covered on their health plan.

Can I claim head of household if my 25 year old son lives with me?

Generally, to qualify for head of household filing status, you must be able to claim a qualifying child or qualifying relative as a dependent. However, a custodial parent may be eligible to claim head of household filing status based on a child even if the custodial parent released a claim to exemption for the child.

Can I claim my child as a dependent if they file a tax return?

While there are many nuances to tax dependents, you can still claim them even if they earn income or receive SNAP benefits or other government assistance. Yet, there are many things to keep top of mind when claiming dependent taxes, so let us help!

How long can parents claim you as dependent?

The IRS sets these specific age limits: Under 19. If the child is under 19 years old at the end of the tax year, they typically qualify as your dependent. Under 24 and a full-time student.