Dependent is 24 with small income.

[Deleted]

Hi, I have a dependent that was 24 last year and finishing up college. She worked 3 months of the year so had an income of $6K. This appears to eliminate my ability to take an exemption/deduction for her even though I provided the bulk of her support.

Do I also loose HOH status? I'm a little unclear how I should file now:

*HOH with Dependent that I don't get a deduction for & then her tax filing is 'can be claimed dependent on someone else's taxes'?

*Single with no dependent?

Is there something I should be doing related to the fact that she was supported by me as a related adult?

I didn't think I lost HOH until this year. I did not realize that the small earnings would knock her off my tax return for last year. She has to file a tax return because although she filled her W4 form as "EXEMPT" they withheld anyhow, so she needs her money back. 

I will probably file an extension so I have time to figure this out 

[Sharon]

DISCLAIMER  << I am not a tax professional, nor do I play one on TV >> 

My DD would have income during college and I could still claim her as my dependent and still claim HOH.  There was a box to check on her return something about can this person be claimed as a dependent by someone else.  We checked that box and then did not take the standard deduction on her return.  The form had instructions on how to handle that situation.

[taxref]

Lilly of the Lake District: You would not be able to claim this child as a dependent for 2013.  The reason is because she was over 23 as of 12-31-13, and she earned over $3,900 in 2013.  

You would also not be able to claim HOH status, unless you have another child you can claim as a dependent.

Sharon: Its a commonly held misconception that parents can automatically claim college students as a dependent.  That, however, is incorrect.  While being a student is a factor in some of the tests to claim a dependent, all of the tests must be met.

 

[Deleted]

Thanks tax ref. I guess I am just in denial that I lose the HOH status a year earlier than I thought & still got to pay tuition/room/board, moving, 2 overlapping apartments and all that good stuff for her    Oh well, my contribution to the tax coffers will please the government.

[Sharon]

Apr 11, 2014 21:07:14 GMT -5 taxref said:

Lilly of the Lake District: You would not be able to claim this child as a dependent for 2013.  The reason is because she was over 23 as of 12-31-13, and she earned over $3,900 in 2013.  

You would also not be able to claim HOH status, unless you have another child you can claim as a dependent.

Sharon: Its a commonly held misconception that parents can automatically claim college students as a dependent.  That, however, is incorrect.  While being a student is a factor in some of the tests to claim a dependent, all of the tests must be met.

 

That is why I always have someone else do my taxes.   My DD got married at age 20 so we never ran up against the age test on being a dependent.  It does totally suck losing the HOH designation.