Can a parent claim a married child as a dependent?
It's very uncommon for a parent to be able to claim a married child as a dependent. If a married child or his or her spouse earns enough income to pay taxes or claim a tax credit such as the Earned Income Credit, the parent can't claim a married child as a dependent.
For a parent to claim a married child as a dependent, the married child has to meet all the normal rules for being a dependent. Also, if the married child is filing a tax return, the married child can only file a joint return if the child and his or her spouse are filing a tax return for the sole purpose of receiving a refund of income tax withheld. So basically, the married child and his or her spouse must have no income or very little income and be receiving more than half of their support from the parent.
For a parent to claim a married child as a dependent, the married child has to meet all the normal rules for being a dependent. Also, if the married child is filing a tax return, the married child can only file a joint return if the child and his or her spouse are filing a tax return for the sole purpose of receiving a refund of income tax withheld. So basically, the married child and his or her spouse must have no income or very little income and be receiving more than half of their support from the parent.
