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Underage working (fashion modeling)

I actually have two questions. My seven-year-old daughter is a fashion model. She has been going to John Casablancas and she's just about done all her classes, but it has cost me a lot of money. Can I claim that on my income taxes since it's considered School? And how does her earnings work? Do I claim them as well?
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Underage working (fashion modeling)

You can't deduct educational expenses as "higher education" unless the school is accredited by the US Dept of Education to participate in federal student aid programs.

You can't deduct the expenses as work-related job training unless she is already earning money as a model.  You can deduct expenses to improve or maintain your qualifications for your present job or career, but you can't deduct expenses for training needed to qualify for a new job or career.

Your child will need to file a separate tax return under their own name for their own income.  Income earned from working is never reported on the parents return.  As noted, each separate return in turbotax online requires a separate account and separate filing fees.  It may be cheaper to buy Turbotax as a CD or download to install on your own computer, to use to prepare both your own (parents') and the child's returns.

Finally, if the child provides more than half their own living expenses, you can't claim them as a dependent for that year.  The key is how the earnings are spent.  If the child's earnings are saved or invested, and the parent's income is used for support (food, clothing, rent or mortgage, medical, travel, etc.) then the child can still be a dependent.  But if the child's income is used for the child's support and makes up more than half the total amount spent on the child, then the child is not your tax dependent for any year where they actually provide more than half their own support.

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8 Replies

Underage working (fashion modeling)

K-12 school expenses are not deductible

Underage working (fashion modeling)

She has to file her own tax return for her earnings.  You do not report her income on your return.  Did she get a W2 or a 1099Misc?  A 1099Misc means she is self employed for it and has to fill out a schedule C in her 1040 return and pay self employment tax on it.  You will have to use the Self Employed version for her return.

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      <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://ttlc.intuit.com/replies/3288574">https://ttlc.intuit.com/replies/3288574</a>

Underage working (fashion modeling)

Sweetie...since the school trains the dependent for a business or trade, could not the parent claim lifetime learning education credit for those expenses?  I am assuming the modeling training is in addition to and not a substitute for K-12 education.
Hal_Al
Level 15

Underage working (fashion modeling)

Only if  the school is an "eligible institution", in which case they would (most likely) issue a 1098-T.
See: <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2694255-what-form-do-i-need-to-claim-my-preteen-modeling-expenses"...>

Underage working (fashion modeling)

I agree with Hal Al.  Also, if you Google that "school," you will see lots of negative info.

Underage working (fashion modeling)

If she gets a 1099-misc could she deduct that expense on her Sch C as education to improve or maintain skills?
Hal_Al
Level 15

Underage working (fashion modeling)

Yes to schooling received after she started working. No to schooling that prepared her for the "new" occupation of modeling.

Underage working (fashion modeling)

You can't deduct educational expenses as "higher education" unless the school is accredited by the US Dept of Education to participate in federal student aid programs.

You can't deduct the expenses as work-related job training unless she is already earning money as a model.  You can deduct expenses to improve or maintain your qualifications for your present job or career, but you can't deduct expenses for training needed to qualify for a new job or career.

Your child will need to file a separate tax return under their own name for their own income.  Income earned from working is never reported on the parents return.  As noted, each separate return in turbotax online requires a separate account and separate filing fees.  It may be cheaper to buy Turbotax as a CD or download to install on your own computer, to use to prepare both your own (parents') and the child's returns.

Finally, if the child provides more than half their own living expenses, you can't claim them as a dependent for that year.  The key is how the earnings are spent.  If the child's earnings are saved or invested, and the parent's income is used for support (food, clothing, rent or mortgage, medical, travel, etc.) then the child can still be a dependent.  But if the child's income is used for the child's support and makes up more than half the total amount spent on the child, then the child is not your tax dependent for any year where they actually provide more than half their own support.

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