Should a college student file taxes if parents claim them?

Asked by: Taya Bartell  |  Last update: March 22, 2025
Score: 4.9/5 (69 votes)

Answer: An unmarried dependent student must file a tax return if his or her earned or unearned income exceeds certain limits. To find these limits, refer to "Dependents" under "Who Must File" in Publication 501, Dependents, Standard Deduction and Filing Information.

Can my college student file taxes if I claim her as a dependent?

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.

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.

Is it better for a college student to claim themselves or be dependent?

A. No. With the tax law change, effective 2018, most students will get the same refund whether they claim themselves or not. The personal exemption has been eliminated and the standard deduction increased. However, you only qualify for an education credit or deduction, if you are not a dependent.

Do I file taxes if my parents claim me as a dependent?

Even if you are claimed as a dependent on another person's tax return, you will generally have to file your own tax return if your total income is more than your standard deduction (the greater of $12200 or your earned income plus $350 for single dependents in 2019).

Can I Still Claim My College Kid As A Dependent On My Taxes?

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Does my daughter file taxes if I claim her as a dependent?

If you're a dependent on someone else's return

You can be claimed as a dependent and still need to file your own tax return. Your filing requirement depends on your income, marital status and other criteria. Find details on filing requirements for dependents.

When should your parents stop claiming you on taxes?

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.

Can I claim my daughter as a dependent if she made over $4000?

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.

Do college students get higher tax refunds?

The American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) is a tax credit for college students and families that can reduce the financial burden of higher education costs. This tax credit can benefit those in their first four years of post-secondary education.

Should I claim my 20 year old college student as a dependent?

However, to claim a college student as a dependent on your taxes, the Internal Revenue Service has determined that the qualifying child or qualifying relative must: Be younger than the taxpayer (or spouse if MFJ) and: Be under age 19, Under age 24 and a full-time student for at least five months of the year.

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.

How long can a parent claim a 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.

Can I still claim my 24 year old college student daughter as my dependent in my NJ income tax return?

Student must be claimed as a dependent on the tax return; Student must be under age 22 on the last day of the tax year (born 2003 or later); Student must attend full-time.

Who enters 1098-T, parent or student?

If you claim a dependent, only you can claim the education credit. Therefore, you would enter Form 1098-T and the dependent's other education information in your return. If you do not claim a dependent, the student can claim the education credit.

How much does a college student have to make to file taxes?

College students may still want to file a return even if it's not a requirement. "If wages are less than $13,850, the student should still consider filing to receive refunds from federal and state withholding taxes," says Michael Trank, a CPA and personal financial specialist at Wertz and Company in Irvine, California.

Do I have to report my child's income on my tax return?

The general rule is that a parent can claim a dependent child's investment income on their own return up to a certain amount —above that, the child needs to file themselves. To claim a child's income on a parent's tax return, the child needs to be considered a qualifying child dependent of the parent.

When should I not claim my college student as a dependent?

Age: The child must be under 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.

Are there tax breaks for parents of college students?

The American Opportunity Tax Credit is based on 100% of the first $2,000 of qualifying college expenses and 25% of the next $2,000, for a maximum possible credit of $2,500 per student. You can claim the AOTC for a credit up to $2,500 if: Your student is in their first four years of college.

How do refunds work for college students?

Why did my college send me a check? A refund check is money that is directly deposited to you by your college. It is the excess money left over from your financial aid award after your tuition and additional fees have been paid. Your college may send you a check or the money may be deposited into your checking account.

Can I claim my daughter as a dependent if she made over $12000?

A qualifying child can earn an unlimited amount of money and still be claimed as a dependent, so long as the child doesn't also provide more than half of their own support.

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?

Can I still claim my daughter as a dependent if she 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.

When should 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.

Can you claim a full-time college student on your taxes?

Generally, a parent can claim you as a dependent until age 19, but if you are a full-time student, they can claim you as a dependent until age 24. There are other determinants, including how much support you provide for yourself, or your parents provide for you.

Can I still file my taxes if someone claimed me as a dependent?

If someone has incorrectly claimed you, it may cause your return to be rejected. You will be unable to electronically file since the IRS system will require you to indicate you can be claimed. You will need to print, sign, and mail your return to the IRS for processing.