My daughter is 17 and has her first W2. She made $2,552. Does she need to file a return?

[MargaretL · Accepted solution]

She is not required to file since her income is less than $6300, but she may want to file if she had any tax withheld on the W-2 (box 2) - just to get that withholding back. 

[Hal_Al]

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.

[dlbell25]

It would be a good idea for her to file as a learning experience if nothing else.

[SweetieJean]

State filing requirements may be different.

[VolvoGirl]

If she does need or want to file a return,  she can probably use the Free Edition.

Online is only good for 1 return.  But you can use the same email address for 5 accounts.   How to start another return in the Online version      https://ttlc.intuit.com/replies/3288574