Minor Dependent with income and education deduction

[kmfolse]

I have a minor dependent who earned income in 2024 (less than $10,000) but who is also a full-time college student that I pay the tuition and fees on. Should my child file his/her own tax return to recoup taxes paid even though I can claim him/her as a dependent on my taxes? What happens with filing for education credits?

[xmasbaby0]

As the parent claiming a dependent---YOU get the education credit.  Dependents do not get education credits.

MY DEPENDENT HAD A JOB

If your dependent has a W-2 for his after-school job, summer job, etc. you do not include the information on your own return. You can still claim your child as a dependent on your own return.  He/she can file his own return for a refund of some of his withheld wages (he won’t get back anything for Social Security or Medicare), but MUST indicate on it that he can be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s return.  (Supervise this closely or prepare it for him!)

If your dependent’s earnings were over $400 and were reported on a 1099Misc or 1099NEC then he must file a return and pay self-employment tax for Social Security and Medicare.

You might also want to use free software from the IRS Free File versions:

https://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile/