Full time student?

Question

for the 2006 tax year i attempted 18 credits and recieved 11 the other 7 were a withdraw form the class the 11 credits were passed can i still be claimed as a depent on my parents taxes as a full time student?

Answer 1

If your school considers 11 credits a full-time load then you are considered a full-time student by the IRS.

If you're 18 or younger, student status isn't a consideration. If you're between 19 and 23, it does count so if the school considers 15 credits a full-time load you could not be claimed as a dependent by your parents under the "qualifying child" rule. You could still qualify under the "qualifying relative" rule if you had less than $3,300 in gross income, lived with them all year, and received more than half of your support form them.

Answer 2

Maybe.

"A full time student is student who is enrolled for the number of hours or courses that the school considers to be full-time attendance. To qualify as a student, your child must be, during some part of each of any 5 calendar months of the year, a full-time student at a school that has a regular teaching staff, course of study, and a regularly enrolled student body..." (from IRS Publication 17, page 27.

So whether you are considered a full time student depends on what the school you were attending considers a full-time load, and when you withdrew from the courses.

If you are under 19, then you can be claimed anyway if the other requirements are met. If you're between 19 and 23, the full-time student definition would come into play in claiming you as a qualifying child.

If your parents provided over half of your support for the year and your gross income was less than $3300, then even if they can't claim you as a qualifying child, they could still claim you as a qualifying relative. You don't have to live with them to be claimed as a dependent as a qualifying relative.

Answer 3

If you were considered a full time student by the school, for atleast one day for each of five calendar months in a year, (sept. oct. nov....) then you were a full time student as far as the IRS is concerned, no matter if you obtained any credits or completed any courses. The months dont have to be consecutive either. If you're between 19 and 23 and a full time student you dont have live with your parents for them to claim you as a dependent, because absenses for school are allowed. You can also make as much money as you want to under those cicumstances because you dont have to pass the Gross Income test. You can make as much as you want to if you are under 23 and a student, as long as you didnt spend it on yourself and provide more than half of your support.

Answer 4

Were you classified as a full-time student by the school for at least one semester in 2006? If so, you can be classified as a full-time student for tax purposes.

Answer 5

Yes, they can.