What is the most a student can earn before having to file

You'll definitely need to file a 2020 return with the IRS if you had:

• $400 or more in self-employment net earnings (gross income minus expenses); or
• Marketplace health insurance and you received advanced payments for the premium tax credit.

If you're being claimed as a dependent on someone else's 2020 return, like your parents', go to Do I need to file my own taxes if I'm a dependent?  Otherwise, if you're not being claimed as a dependent, refer to the chart here.

 

Tip: Even if you're not required to file a return this year, file one anyway if you want to recover 2020 federal tax withheld from your paychecks.

Simple answer: $12,400. But, it depends on the source of his income.

 

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 2020 if he had any of the following:

1.          Total income (wages, salaries, taxable scholarship etc.) of more than $12,400 (2020).
2.          Unearned income (interest, dividends, capital gains) of more than $1100.
3.          Unearned income over $350 and gross income of more than $1100
4.          Household employee income (e.g. baby sitting, lawn mowing) over $2100 ($12.400 if under age 18)
5.          Other self employment income over $432, including money on a form 1099-NEC

 

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.

In TurboTax, he indicates that somebody else can claim him as a dependent, at the personal information section.