Ask the taxgirl: Qualifying Children and Rebate Checks

by Kelly on October 18, 2008 · 3 comments

in ask the taxgirl, individual

Taxpayer asks:

We claimed our son last year on our taxes. Born April 1989. We have a daughter who is 16. We recieved $1500 stimulus check. None for our son and he didn’t get one for himself either. Should he have? Thank you.

Taxgirl says:

Sorry, no. Eligible taxpayers received an additional $300 for each qualifying child. However, to qualify a child must be under age 17 as of December 31, 2007. So, if you claimed your (then) 18 year old son on your return, he would not have qualified to receive a check on his own as your dependent - and you would have not received a payment for him because of his age.

I know, I know. I’ve heard a bunch of complaints about this one…

Like any good lawyer, I need to add a disclaimer: Unfortunately, it is impossible to give comprehensive tax advice over the internet, no matter how well researched or written. Before relying on any information given on this site, contact a tax professional to discuss your particular situation.

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Ask the taxgirl: Dependent Turns 17, Now What? | taxgirl
11.06.08 at 6:16 pm

{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Cathleen Stacey 10.18.08 at 10:01 pm

What if the child is over 17 but disabled?

2 Kelly 10.18.08 at 11:13 pm

I haven’t seen anything to suggest that it would be different - but I’ll keep checking.

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