Not really, because the program doesn't know what his support costs were. This is odd because we usually get questions the other way around, saying they shouldn't have to file the return.
How much was his earned income? If it was a fair amount, that could trigger the form not appearing. Try taking out his W-2 amount and see what happens if you incrementally add the income back in.
For tax year 2021, the Kiddie Tax applies if your child has unearned income (usually from investments) exceeding $2,200.
Form 8615 must be filed for any child who meets all of the following conditions.
- The child had more than $2,200 of unearned income.
- The child is required to file a tax return.
- The child either:
- 17 or younger at the end of 2021
- 18 at the end of 2021, but only if their earned income (excluding scholarships in the case of a full-time student) didn’t exceed half of their support costs in 2021.
- Was a full-time student at least age 19 and under age 24 at the end of 2021 and didn’t have earned income that was more than half of the child's support.
- (Unearned income and support are defined below.
- At least one of the child's parents was alive at the end of 2021.
- The child doesn’t file a joint return for 2021.
For these rules, the term “child” includes a legally adopted child and a stepchild. These rules apply whether or not the child is a dependent. These rules don’t apply if neither of the child’s parents were living at the end of the year.
