Claiming a college student under 24
$500 credit + education credits
Can You Write Off Claiming a College Student Under 24?
Short answer: Yes: a full-time student under 24 can stay your qualifying child, and time away at school counts as living with you.
Claiming them also lets you take the American Opportunity Credit for their tuition. A qualifying child must live with you more than half the year, be under 19 (or under 24 and a full-time student, or any age if permanently disabled), and not provide over half their own support.
Records to keep: Keep receipts, statements (1098, 1098-T, 1099, W-2G), and a note of what each cost was for. Compare itemizing to the 2026 standard deduction before you claim.
Claiming a college student under 24
Typical range: $500 credit + education credits
Individuals / Personal Taxes
Yes: a full-time student under 24 can stay your qualifying child, and time away at school counts as living with you.
Business justification
Yes: a full-time student under 24 can stay your qualifying child, and time away at school counts as living with you. Claiming them also lets you take the American Opportunity Credit for their tuition. A qualifying child must live with you more than half the year, be under 19 (or under 24 and a full-time student, or any age if permanently disabled), and not provide over half their own support.
Category
- Personal Tax Deductions