What is the age limit for dependents?

Asked by: Mr. Tyrel Corwin PhD  |  Last update: July 5, 2025
Score: 4.7/5 (38 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.

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

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.

How long can I claim my adult child 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 still claim my 25 year old 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 you be a dependent after 21?

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.

What Is the Age Limit for Adding Dependents in PR 🤔

16 related questions found

Can I claim my 21 year old 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.

How much do you get for a dependent over 18?

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.

Can I claim my 30 year old daughter 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.

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.

Who cannot be claimed as a dependent?

A dependent must be a U.S. citizen, resident alien or national or a resident of Canada or Mexico. A person can't be claimed as a dependent on more than one tax return, with rare exceptions. A dependent can't claim a dependent on their own tax return. You can't claim your spouse as a dependent if you file jointly.

What qualifies as an adult dependent?

The IRS allows taxpayers to claim a qualifying adult as a dependent if said relative meets all the general rules for dependents, lives with you as a member of your household for the whole year, has a gross income under $4,700, and gets more than half of their financial support from you.

Can I claim my 30 year old boyfriend as a dependent?

Key Takeaways

To qualify as a dependent, your partner must have lived with you for the entire calendar year and listed your home as their official residence for the full year. If your partner has gross income above a certain amount ($5,050 for tax year 2024), you can't claim that person as a dependent.

What are the rules for claiming dependents?

The child must be: (a) under age 19 at the end of the year and younger than you (or your spouse, if filing jointly), (b) under age 24 at the end of the year, a full- time student, and younger than you (or your spouse, if filing jointly), or (c) any age if permanently and totally 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.

Can I still claim my child 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.

What is the age limit for the child tax credit?

Families must have at least one qualifying child under 6 years old at the end of the tax year, must file a California state tax return, and meet the requirements of the CalEITC. Taxpayers do not need to have earned income to be eligible however, you must otherwise meet CalEITC and YCTC requirements.

Why doesn't my 17 year old qualify for Child Tax Credit?

To be a qualifying child for the CTC and/or ACTC, the child must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national or U.S. resident alien, and must not have attained age 17 by the end of the tax year.

When should I stop claiming 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.

Why am I only getting $2000 for Child Tax Credit?

Eligibility depends on filing status, income and the child's relationship to the caregiver. The maximum credit amount is $2,000, but it phases out based on modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) levels. This means high earners may receive a smaller credit or be ineligible.

At what age is a child no longer a dependent?

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. If the child is a full-time student and less than 24 years old at the end of the tax year, they can still be claimed as a dependent. Permanently disabled.

Can my parents claim me as a dependent at 29?

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.

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.

Is there a benefit to claiming an 18 year old as a dependent?

Claiming you as a dependent is an attractive option for your parents because it can reduce their tax liability. If your parents continue to claim you as a dependent after you turn 18, they may be able to take advantage of tax breaks like: The credit for other dependents.

Why am I only getting $500 for Child Tax Credit?

The credit is $500 per qualifying dependent as long as the adjusted gross income (AGI) doesn't exceed $200,000 ($400,000 if filing jointly). The credit goes down $50 for every $1,000 that the AGI exceeds the $200,000/$400,000 limit.

What happens when dependent turns 18?

When your child becomes a legal adult, you can no longer make certain decisions for them about their health and welfare. However, you can stay involved through: A Representative Payee: Social Security will determine who best serves as Representative Payee for your child's benefits.