Yes, your daughter would need to file a nonresident South Carolina tax return in order to claim a refund for state taxes withheld there.
Federal Tax filing requirements for dependent children are different from those of other taxpayers.
- A dependent child who has earned more than $15,750 of earned income (tax year 2025) typically needs to file a personal income tax form. Earned income includes wages, tips, salaries, and payment from self-employment.
- A dependent child who receives more than $1,350 in investment income in 2025 is required to file a tax return. Investment income includes interest and dividend payments.
See this TurboTax tips article for more information.
You only need to report a dependent's Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) for ACA premium tax credit purposes if that dependent is required to file their own tax return. If they file only to receive a refund of withheld taxes, their income is not included.
See here for the South Carolina filing requirements.
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