Question regarding claiming son as dependent when he formed a business last year

My son who is 21, but only earned less than $1,000 last year and was totally supported by us formed a company, I think it is a DBA with a girl he knows. The mother of this girl who is in business loaned them some money for the business. The business did not make any money, I am not sure it even had any revenue last year. I know my son did not get paid any money out of the business. He now claims he was told we cannot claim him as a dependent, because if we did it would affect the loss (I assume the money loaned from the girl's mother) that they could carry forward to next year. I mentioned this to my accountant who seemed to think that if he was under 21, did not have income greater than $3,300 and was supported by us (living at home), then we could/should claim him and it would have no affect on the business. His only income last year (less than $1000) was working for this girl's mother's business, but he still claims that he has to file himself and that he was told that he cannot be claimed as a dependent without it affecting the business (by this girl's mother I think). He doesn't seem to know much about the business side and it all seems a little suspicious to me. Does anyone know if there is any reason why we could not claim him as a dependent or why it would be more beneficial for him because of their business loss for us not too Thanks Phil

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philx_100
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Since you supported him and his income was low enough, he's a qualifying relative for dependency purposes. Claim him, and tell him you're doing so. I suspect all this who shot John about the business has to do with NOL's, but God alone knows how they have this business set up. While you're talking to him, you might want to mention that "my girlfriend's mother" is not a universally accepted tax law authority. I put her right up there with Sally's cousin's roommate's boyfriend's mother's hairdresser, an oft-cited source of "I heard..." bogus tax law.

-- Phil Marti Clarksburg, MD

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Phil Marti

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