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2024 Dependent Calculator

Dependents
For Tax Year
2024

This page is being updated for tax year 2024.

Find out if an individual qualifies as your Dependent on your 2024 tax return by answering just a few questions below. The tax deadline or tax day is April 15, 2025, the eFile deadline is in October. If you owe taxes you might be subject to late filing and/or late payment penalties.

Two types of Dependents you might be able to claim:

  1. Qualifying Child: The tool below will provide answers
  2. Qualifying Relatives: See if you can claim other dependents. Even though it states relative you might be able to claim non-relatives as well.

Dependents generally receive support, primarily financially, from someone who will claim them on their taxes for certain deductions and credits. This dependent tool or DEPENDucator will answer if you can claim a person as a qualifying dependent with your 2023 tax year. The qualifying relative tool will answer if a relative can be dependent on your tax return. Find an overview of all child-related tax deductions and credits, and find out if your dependent needs to or should file a tax return.

Other free 2024 tax year tools and calculators.

Dependent Calculator or DEPENDucator Tool Learn more about dependents.
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Dependent Qualification
Is this individual, e.g., a child a U.S. citizen, a U.S. resident alien, a U.S. national, or a resident of Canada or Mexico?
Relationship Qualification
Is the child your son, daughter, stepchild, foster child, brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, stepbrother, stepsister, or a descendant (e.g., niece, nephew, grandchild, etc.) of any of them?
Age Qualification
Is the child either one of these three:
1. Under the age of 19 as of December 31, 2024, and younger than you (or your spouse if married filing jointly). OR
2. Under age 24 as of December 31, 2024, a student, and younger than you (or your spouse if married filing jointly). OR
3. Any age if permanently and totally disabled.
Residency Qualification
Did the child live with you for more than six months during 2024? Generally, a child of divorced or separated parents is the qualifying child of the custodial parent.
Child Support Qualification
Did you support this child for more than six months during 2024?
Child's Tax Return
Did the child file a joint return for 2024 (unless that joint return is filed only to claim a refund of withheld income tax or estimated tax paid)?
Claimed By Another Taxpayer
Are you filing a married filing joint return, and you and/or your spouse is/are claimed as a dependent by another taxpayer?
Dependent Of Another Person
Does this child also qualify to be a dependent of another person?
Details
The custodial parent is the parent with whom the child lived for the most nights during the year. If a child is treated as the qualifying child of the noncustodial parent under the rules for children of divorced or separated parents (or parents who live apart) described earlier, a noncustodial parent can claim the child if the following apply click here.
If somebody claimed a child incorrectly, e.g., in the case of divorced or separated parents (or parents who live apart), learn about the IRS Tie Braker rules. If somebody already claimed your dependent on a tax return for the given tax year, you can prepare your return(s) on eFile.com before you download, print and mail them in, but you can NOT e-file and claim the dependent. What to do if your dependent has been claimed? Once you submit your return, you must contact the IRS, which will apply the tiebreaker rules.

Dependents are generally people (children, relatives, even certain friends) who receive support, primarily financially, from someone who will claim them on their taxes for certain deductions and credits. This dependent tool or DEPENDucator will answer if you can claim a person as a qualifying dependent on your Tax Return.

No, you can not claim this person as your Dependent.
This individual might qualify as your Qualifying Relative. Find out
Yes, you can claim this person as your Dependent.
A Dependent might qualify for the Child Tax Credit, worth up to $2,000 per child.
Find out
Can you claim the Dependent Care Credit for this person, worth up to $2,100? Find out
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Disclaimer: eFile.com makes no warranty as to the accuracy of the results of this estimator or calculator tool. The results are estimates and for informational purposes only and should not be relied on for tax advice.

Once you know the results of the DEPENDucator, use the 2024 Tax Return Calculator and estimate your next tax return or simply start your tax return now.

If you have questions about this tool or your next tax return, contact an eFile.com Taxpert® for free.

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