What is the definition of a qualifying child for tax purposes?

A qualifying child for tax purposes plays a crucial role in determining eligibility for various tax benefits, such as the Child Tax Credit and dependent exemptions. The correct choice highlights that to be considered a qualifying child, an individual must meet certain criteria known as the relationship, age, residency, and support tests.

The relationship test requires the child to be the taxpayer's child, stepchild, sibling, stepsibling, or a descendant of any of these individuals. The age test specifies that the child must be under 19 at the end of the tax year or under 24 if they are a full-time student. The residency test mandates that the child must live with the taxpayer for more than half of the tax year, establishing a significant familial connection. Lastly, the support test states that the child cannot provide more than half of their own support during the year.

These combined criteria ensure that the dependent closely resembles a member of the taxpayer’s household, allowing the taxpayer to claim certain tax benefits effectively. This comprehensive definition encapsulates the essential attributes of a qualifying child, making it the correct choice. Other alternatives, while they may reference relevant concepts, do not address the full scope of requirements necessary to classify an individual as a qualifying child under tax law.