What exactly is a "Full Time Student?"

[Yardley CPA]

It's my understanding that in order to satisfy the "Age" test, a qualifying child must be under 19 at the end of the tax year or under the age of 24 and attend school, full time, for at least 5 months of the year. I have a client whose 22 year old son graduated from college mid-May, 2012 and took no additional classes throughout the year. I assume the son is not the taxpayers qualifying child in this case?

Other posts I've read base "full time" on the number of credit hours taken, indicating anyone taking at least 12 credits in a year is considered full time.

Just wanted to see what your thoughts are?

Thanks!

[Jack from Ohio]

The definition of a full time student is a student taking 12 or more credit hours of classes in a quarter or semester.

The son DOES meet requirements to be qualified child for 2012. "...in any part of any 5 months throughout the calendar year."

[Yardley CPA]

Thank you.

[Randall]

I thought it was the 8 year Bachelors degree program.

Just a joke.

[RitaB]

It's my understanding that in order to satisfy the "Age" test, a qualifying child must be under 19 at the end of the tax year or under the age of 24 and attend school, full time, for at least 5 months of the year. I have a client whose 22 year old son graduated from college mid-May, 2012 and took no additional classes throughout the year. I assume the son is not the taxpayers qualifying child in this case?

Other posts I've read base "full time" on the number of credit hours taken, indicating anyone taking at least 12 credits in a year is considered full time.

Just wanted to see what your thoughts are?

Thanks!

Twelve hours is full time for both my kids, but I believe it depends on the school and/or the course of study. This is from Pub 970:

Enrolled at least half-time. A student was enrolled at least half-time if the student was taking at least half the normal full-time work load for his or her course of study.

http://www.irs.gov/publications/p970/ch02.html

I think if 12 hours was the magic number, the Pub would say 12 hours.

[RitaB]

I thought it was the 8 year Bachelors degree program.

Just a joke.

Hey, my daughter was dating that guy. Thank God it didn't work out.