Question:
OK, I know the "answer" to this problem - make him work, kick him out, etc etc etc.
Russell, for TAX PURPOSES - our 25 year old son lives at home. We were his sole support this past year - he made about $1800 for the year, and $1100 of that was his final paycheck from 2005. We provided the bed, food, car payments, insurance, etc.
I know he's too old to be a qualifying child, but can't we claim him as a qualifying relative??? I thought I saw someplace on the IRS website that said I could, but I seem to remember seeing somewhere else that I couldn't.
As for the "why" we do it - because we're saps, why else!!??

Answer:

As long as you pay most of his support you can claim him.
BUT if he files a tax return to get back any income tax he paid, he MUST not claim himself.
There are lots of things he should be doing, and I see you know most of them.
Good luck.

Answer:

Thank you!!!! Looks like I won't be using TaxCut this year - it won't let me take him as a deduction for child OR relative, and I just KNEW there had to be a way to claim him!!!
Yep, he knows he can't claim himself if I do - filing his own, he was going to get about $8 back, not claiming himself he'll owe about $7. Since I'll end up paying it anyway - I'm claiming him!!
And yes, I SOOOO know what he should be doing - anything that gets him employed and out on his own finally!!!!
Anyway, thank you so much for your help!!! Now - to figure out if I want to tackle this on my own or pay you..... oh, how I wish I were rich!

Answer:

Thank you.
Take him to the recruiters. My Granddaughter just got out of basic training, and my grandson is also in the military.
The pay and the educational benifits blow me away.

Answer:

Thanks, but BTDT. He was "discharged" around 2001. They sent home with virtually no paperwork and told him they'd mail his DD-214 (discharge papers), and now they can't decide if he's on administrative leave, awol, or never enlisted - depends on who he talks to.
Army Intelligence for you!