My son is 18 and in high school does he have to file his own return and if he does who where do I put the 1098-T on his return or mine?

[xmasbaby0 · Accepted solution]

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 then he must file a return and pay self-employment tax for Social Security and Medicare.  You may want to use this version of TT for that:

https://turbotax.intuit.com/taxfreedom/

You mentioned he is in high school--so not sure why he has a 1098T--but he is your dependent so that goes on your  return.  A dependent cannot claim education credits.

[rodyjr7]

He is in high school taking a few college classes.

[xmasbaby0]

Use the 1098T on your own tax return.

[fanfare]

Save your education credits for those years when the student is in college (expensive).
He probably does not have the "half-time" box 8 checked anyway.

[xmasbaby0]

True--Don't waste the 1098T on American Opportunity Credit--save it.  But the Tuition and Fees credit was just put back in by Congress.  It will not be in the software for at least several weeks.  Congress threw a monkey wrench into many tax returns with an act passed yesterday.