Q. Should I have to pay taxes if I’m 16 and cannot vote? I’m also a dependent on my moms tax return.
A. Maybe. None of those things (age, voting status, being a dependent) gets you out of paying taxes or filing a return. It's the amount and the source of your income that counts.
A dependent child must file a tax return for 2022 if he had any of the following:
- Total income (wages, salaries, taxable scholarship etc.) of more than $12,950 (2022).
- Unearned income (interest, dividends, capital gains, unemployment, taxable portion of 529 distribution) of more than $1150 (2022)
- Unearned income over $400 (2022) and gross income of more than $1150 (2022)
- Household employee income (e.g. baby sitting, lawn mowing) over $2300 ($12,950 if under age 18)
- 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.
*If you had self employment of less than $12,950, you will owe no income tax, but you will pay social security and medicare tax in the form of "Self employment tax".
Your parent does not file your income on her return. You must file you own return. There's one exception. If your only income is from interest and dividends, Alaska PFD or capital gains distributions shown on a 1099-DIV, there is a provision for entering it on the parent's return, using form 8814.
But, it is usually best for you to file a separate return, as qualified dividends and capital gain distributions could be taxed at a higher rate on the parent's return.
