Can I claim my daughter as a dependent if she made over $10,000?

Asked by: Ardella Cummings  |  Last update: September 21, 2025
Score: 4.9/5 (37 votes)

If your dependent is a qualifying child, there is no limit to the amount of income they can earn. Generally, to qualify, the child must meet the specific relationship, age, residency, and support requirements. However, if your dependent is classified as a qualifying relative, their gross income must not exceed $4,700.

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

How much can a dependent child earn? 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.

When can you no longer 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 child as a dependent if they work?

You can still claim your child as a dependent on your own return. He/she can file his own return for a refund of some of his withheld wages (he won't get back anything for Social Security or Medicare), but MUST indicate on it that he can be claimed as a dependent on someone else's return.

Can I claim my daughter as a dependent if she made over $30,000?

For qualifying dependents who are not a qualifying child (called “qualifying relatives” in tax law), the person's gross income for the 2023 tax year must be below $4,700 (for 2023).

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

28 related questions found

Can I claim my 35 year old daughter 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.

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.

Can I claim my daughter if she files her own taxes?

Can I claim my child as a dependent if they file a tax return? Your child can still qualify as a dependent if they file their own taxes. They will need to indicate that someone else claims them as a dependent on their return.

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

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. Parents can use IRS Form 8814 to elect to report their child's income on their tax return instead of the child filing their own return.

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

Only one person or a pair of spouses filing jointly may claim a student as a dependent. Even if your student files their own tax return for part-time wages, as long as they are under 24 years old and enrolled in school full-time, you may still be able to claim them as a qualifying child.

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

Child
  • Relationship — must be your: ...
  • Age: Are under 13 years old.
  • Residency: Lived with you for more than 1/2 the year.
  • Support: Did not provide more than 1/2 of his/her own support.
  • Joint Return: Did not file a joint federal or state income tax return.

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.

What is the $3600 Child Tax Credit?

Specifically, the Child Tax Credit was revised in the following ways for 2021: The credit amount was increased for 2021. The American Rescue Plan increased the amount of the Child Tax Credit from $2,000 to $3,600 for qualifying children under age 6, and $3,000 for other qualifying children under age 18.

When should you stop claiming your child as a dependent?

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 16 year old if she works?

Even if your child is earning and reporting their own income, you can claim them as a dependent as long as they meet the IRS's qualifying child test. If you want to do so, you may want to review the rules around claiming a dependent on your tax return.

What are the disadvantages of claiming a parent as dependent?

Cons of claiming your parents as dependents

While tax credits and deductions can help you reduce your taxable income, you still have to pay a significant amount in care costs. The tax benefits you receive from claiming your parents as dependents will only partially offset medical expenses and other care costs.

Can a parent claim their child's income?

Election to report child's unearned income on parent's return. A parent of a child under age 19 (or under age 24 if a full-time student) may be able to elect to include the child's interest and dividend income on the parent's return. See Parents' Election To Report Child's Interest and Dividends in Part 2.

What is the child tax credit for 2024?

Tax credit per child for 2024

The maximum tax credit per qualifying child is $2,000 for children under 17. For the refundable portion of the credit (or the additional child tax credit), you may receive up to $1,700 per qualifying child. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

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 happens if my parents claim me but I file as independent?

Even if someone else, like a parent, claims you on their own tax return, you may still be required to file your own return. Filing requirements vary with annual income, marital status, Earned Income Tax Credit requirements, and other factors.

Does a high school student have to file taxes?

“Once you have at least $1,100 in investment income, you must file, and after $2,200, you start having to pay taxes at your parents' tax rate,” says Yves-Marc Courtines, a financial planner in Manhattan Beach, Calif.

What are the 5 tests for qualifying children?

Changes to Certain Benefits

The five dependency tests – relationship, gross income, support, joint return and citizenship/residency – continue to apply to a qualifying relative. A child who is not a qualifying child might still be a dependent as a qualifying relative.

When can I no longer claim my college student as a dependent?

Rules for claiming college students as dependents

If your child meets these requirements and is a full-time college student, you can claim them as a dependent until they are 24. If they are working while in school, you must still provide more than half of their financial support to claim them.

When should your child file their own taxes?

Your dependent children must file a tax return when they earn above a certain amount of income. Dependent children with earned income in excess of $14,600 must file an income tax return (for the 2024 tax year).

What is the income limit for the child tax credit?

Overview. The Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC) provides up to $1,154 per eligible tax return for tax year 2024. YCTC may provide you with cash back or reduce any tax you owe. California families qualify with earned income of $31,950 or less.