You do not report your dependent's 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:
- Total income (wages, salaries, taxable scholarship etc.) of more than $12,400 (2020).
- Unearned income (interest, dividends, capital gains, unemployment, Alaska PFD) of more than $1100.
- Unearned income over $350 and gross income of more than $1100
- Household employee income (e.g. baby sitting, lawn mowing) over $2100 ($12,400 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.
Unearned income includes taxable interest, dividends, capital gain distributions, taxable social security benefits, pensions and annuities, Alaska PFD and Unemployment compensation. Earned income includes wages, tips, and taxable scholarships/fellowships (scholarships are earned income for the purpose of calculating the standard deduction but unearned income for purposes of forms 8814 and 8615). Gross income is total earned and unearned income.
*If his 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 your return, using form 8814. Enter at Less common income / Child's income.
