Is My Dependent Required to File a Tax Return If They Have Income?

Your dependent may be required to file a return if they have one or more of the following types of income:

• Earned income: This includes wages, salaries, and other amounts you received as pay for work you actually perform. Taxable scholarship income is also generally included.
• Unearned income: Interest, capital gains, and interest are examples of unearned income. Trust distributions of dividends, capital gains, interest, and survivor annuities are also considered unearned income.

Income Requirements for Dependents to File a Federal Income Tax Return

If your dependent is claimed on your tax return, they may still be required to file an income tax return of their own. The requirements vary by marriage status and age.

The minimum income requirements for dependents are listed in the table below.

Marriage Status	Age	Minimum Income Requirement	Minimum Self-Employment Income Requirement
Single	Under 65 (and not blind)	More than $6,300 earned (or more than $1,050 unearned*)	$400
	65 or older OR blind	More than $7,850 earned (or more than $2,600 unearned)	$400
	65 or older AND blind	More than $9,400 earned (or more than $4,150 unearned)	$400
Married**	Under 65 (and not blind)	More than $6,300 earned (or more than $1,050 unearned)	$400
	65 or older OR blind	More than $7,550 earned (or more than $2,300 unearned)	$400
	65 or older AND blind	More than $8,800 earned (or more than $3,550 unearned)	$400

* Income that you did not earn by working, such as investment income or gifts.

** You must file a return if your spouse files a separate return and itemizes deductions and your total income is $5 or more.

If My Dependent Files a Tax Return on his or her own, how will this affect my own Tax Return?

Please be aware that you can NOT include your dependent's income as income on your own tax return. In addition, your dependent needs to check a box on his or her own tax return to report that he or she can be claimed as a dependent on somebody else's tax return.

If My Dependent Has No Income, Do They Still Need to File?

They may need to file a return if one of the special reasons to file a tax return applies to them. For example, if they bought health insurance from the Marketplace, they need to file a return in order to claim the refundable Premium Tax Credit.

Is It OK for My Dependent to File a Tax Return Even If They Don't Need to File?

There's no harm for your dependent to file a tax return. It's possible that they will received a refund (and they should file a return in order to claim the refund).

How Can My Dependent Find Out If They Will Receive a Tax Refund?

Yes, please consult with a tax professional.

Can My Dependent Claim Their Own Personal Exemption When They File Their Tax Return?

Your dependent cannot claim their own exemption if you already claim an exemption for them on your tax return. They will need to check the box on their return indicating that someone else is claiming them on a tax return.

If My Dependent is Under 16 Years Old Filing a Return For the First Time, Can They Efile?

No, they will need to prepare and file their return to the IRS via mail. However, they can efile their tax return the following year.

What If My Dependent Cannot File Their Own Return Due to Their Age?

If your dependent child must file a tax return, but cannot because of their age or other reason, you, a guardian, or other person who is legally responsible for the child must file the return on the child's behalf. The person must also sign the child name on the return if the child cannot sign it, followed by "By [your signature], parent for minor child."

Can I Claim My Dependent's Income on My Tax Return?

No, your dependent can only claim their income on their own tax return.

What If I Have a Dependent Child Who Earned Income by Performing Services?

This income is included in your dependent's gross income and must be reported on his or her individual tax return. This is true even if a local law states that a child's parent has the right the claim the earnings and even received the earnings because of this ruling.

What If My Child Does Not Pay the Tax Due on the Income?

You (or the child's guardian) are responsible for paying the owed tax.

Is There Other Tax Information from My Dependent That I Could Report on My Tax Return?

You may be able to include your dependent child's dividend and interest income on your tax return. Your child will not have to file their own tax return if you do this.

All of the following conditions must be met before you can claim your child's interest and dividend income on your return:

• Your child is under age 19 (or under age 24 if a he or she is a student) at the end of the Tax Year.
• Your child's gross income is only from dividends and interest (including capital gain distributions and Alaska Permanent Fund dividends).
• The dividend and interest income was less than $10,150
• Your child is required to file a tax return unless you meet the requirements to file your own return with your child's income.
• Your child does not file a joint tax return.
• No estimated tax payments were submitted for the current Tax Year and no overpayment for the previous Tax Year were applied for the current Tax Year under your child's name and Social Security number.
• You must be the parent whose tax return is used when reporting your child's income.
• No federal backup withholding tax was withheld from your child's income.

What is Backup Withholding?

Usually, backup withholding applies to most types of payments reported on Form 1099. These payments include:

• Interest payments (reported on Form 1099-INT)
• Dividends (reported on Form 1099-DIV)
• Patronage dividends (reported on Form 1099-PATR, but only if at least half the payment is in money)
• Rents, profits, or other gains (reported on Form 1099-MISC)
• Commissions, fees, or other payment for independent contractor work (reported on 1099-MISC)
• Payments by brokers (reported on Form 1099-B)
• Payments by fishing boat operators (reported on Form 1099-MISC, but only the money part and it should represent a share of the proceeds of the catch)
• Royalty payments (reported on Form 1099-MISC)
• Gambling winnings (reported on Form W-2G)

What Types of Income Does Not Apply Backup Withholding?

Backup withholding generally does not apply to other payments reported on Form 1099-MISC (other than royalty payments and payments by fishing boat operators) unless at least one of the following three situations applies:

• The amount received from any payer is $600 or more
• The payer had to give you a Form 1099 for the previous Tax Year
• The payer made payments to you last year that were subject to backup withholding
• The amount is less than $10 (neither a Form 1099 nor backup withholding is required)

Can I Still Claim My Child As a Dependent?

Yes, if your dependent qualifies as your qualifying child or qualifying relative.

Should My Young Child/Relative File a Tax Return On Their Own or with Me?

Your child or relative should file on their own.

Can I File as Head of Household?

In order to qualify for the Head of Household filing status, you are required to claim your child or relative as a dependent on your tax return (exception: if you released a claim for exemption for child).

Does My Child Have to File a Tax Return As a Student?

Your student may need to file a return if they meet the IRS filing requirements. Even if they are not required to file, they may want to file a return in order to claim a refundable tax credit (i.e. American Opportunity Credit).

How Does My Dependent File a Tax Return?

Your dependent can start preparing and filing their 2016 tax return as early January 2017. We will determine the correct forms for them based on their answer to some simple tax questions. Then we will guide them through filling them out correctly, and we will double-check everything for accuracy and missing information. 

Which Tax Form Does My Dependent Need to File?

It's most likely your dependent will qualify for the 1040EZ.

What Information Does My Dependent Need to File a Tax Return?

Your dependent will need copies of his W-2, 1099-MISC, or other tax informational forms from their employer.