Is there a minimum income level that a person does not need to file a federal tax return?

[tsm216]

Person received a W-2 and a 1099 misc. Total income is $3,977. He is a college student and claimed as a dependent on parents return.  Is he required to file a federal and state return?

[Hal_Al]

Yes there are minimum filing requirements. The simple answer is he doesn't need to file if he has less than $6300 of income. State requirements vary. The general rule is if you don't have to file a federal return, you don't need to file state. There are exceptions. Look up your state at https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2903200-do-i-need-to-file-a-state-return

You do not report his/her income on your return. If it has to be reported at all, it goes on his own return. If your dependent child is under age 19 (or under 24 if a full time student), he or she must file a tax return for 2016 if he had any of the following:

1.         Total income (wages, salaries, taxable scholarship etc.) of more than $6,300 (2016).

2.         Unearned income (interest, dividends, capital gains) of more than $1050 (2016).

3.         Unearned income over $350 and gross income of more than $1050

4.         Household employee income (e.g. baby sitting, lawn mowing) over $2000 ($6300 if under age 18)

5.         Other self employment income over $400, including box 7 of a 1099-MISC

Even if he had less, he is allowed to file if he needs to get back income tax withholding. He cannot get back social security or Medicare tax withholding.

 He doesn’t get his own $4050 exemption (deduction), when he files. In TurboTax, he indicates that somebody else can claim him as a dependent, at the personal information section.