USA Non-Custodial Parent claiming child for tax credit after child turns 18

[Headmaster]

My friend has 2 kids, 10 and 7, but does not pay child support and does not have them as tax credits. He shares custody every other week. If the first child turns 18 and decides to have the father as the custodian, can the father claim him as a tax credit for that year? What would be required? Would the same thing apply for the second child? He lives in Seminole County, Florida.

 

[kirby]

Sorry - the determination of whether this child would qualify as a dependent involves a LOT of factors and not simply that the father was custodian. You'll need to run this by a tax professional who can ask you all the many questions involved in this.

 

[Ashley K. Knowlton MBA]

Also, if you mean the $3,000 "Child Tax Credit" it ends when the child is 17 anyway.