Can You Claim an Exemption for Your College-Age Student?

If your child is a full-time student under age 24, claiming an exemption for him or her on your tax return may depend on your passing the support test. Support includes food, clothing, and educational expenses such as tuition and fees. Your child cannot have provided over one-half the cost of those expenses. If you fail this support test, you can’t take a dependency exemption and certain education tax breaks.