Can my parents still claim me if I already graduated from college?

Question

Can my parents still claim me if I already graduated from college?

Answer 1

There are five tests that must be met for a child to be your qualifying child. The five tests are:

Relationship,

Age,

Residency,

Support, and

Special test for qualifying child of more than one person.

These tests are explained next.

Relationship Test

To meet this test, a child must be:

Your son, daughter, stepchild, foster child, or a descendant (for example, your grandchild) of any of them, or

Your brother, sister, half brother, half sister, stepbrother, stepsister, or a descendant (for example, your niece or nephew) of any of them.

Adopted child.   An adopted child is always treated as your own child. The term “adopted child” includes a child who was lawfully placed with you for legal adoption.

Foster child.   A foster child is an individual who is placed with you by an authorized placement agency or by judgment, decree, or other order of any court of competent jurisdiction.

Age Test

To meet this test, a child must be:

Under age 19 at the end of the year,

A full-time student under age 24 at the end of the year, or

Permanently and totally disabled at any time during the year, regardless of age.

ANSWER:  No, unless you are totally disabled, or under age 19.

Answer 2

They can claim you if they pay more than half your expenses, age is irrelevant.

Answer 3

Your parent's can only claim you on their taxes if:

You are under 19 years old or you are under 24 years old and a current student.