Should I Claim My College Student as a Dependent?
Claiming a college student as a dependent often makes sense when you provide most of their support and can use education tax credits or dependent-related tax benefits. It is usually the wrong choice when the student pays more than half of their own support, fails IRS residency or full-time-student tests, or when claiming would raise the household’s overall tax bill. Compare both returns, document support, and consult a tax professional before filing.