topic My 16 yr old made 2000$ last year. Is submitting a w2 ok or do I sumbit a 1040? in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

My 16 yr old made 2000$ last year. Is submitting a w2 ok or do I sumbit a 1040?

lanaepayton — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 20:18:46 GMT

Or do I add a form to my own taxes. I will be claiming her as a dependent

Re: My 16 yr old made 2000$ last year. Is submitting a w2 ok or do I sumbit a 1040?

MindyB — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 20:22:00 GMT

You cannot add her W-2 to your own tax return.

She does not have to file her own tax return because she made less than $15,750. However, she should file a Form 1040 if her employer took taxes out of her paycheck. Filing is the only way for her to get that money back as a refund.

You can still claim her as a dependent on your taxes. If she does file her own return, she must check the box that says "Someone can claim you as a dependent."

Here's some information you may find helpful: At What Income Does a Minor Have to File an Income Tax Return?

Re: My 16 yr old made 2000$ last year. Is submitting a w2 ok or do I sumbit a 1040?

DoninGA — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 20:22:04 GMT

You cannot enter a dependent's earned income on your tax return. If the dependent files a tax return make sure they indicate on the return that they can be claimed as a depenedent.

Re: My 16 yr old made 2000$ last year. Is submitting a w2 ok or do I sumbit a 1040?

VolvoGirl — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 20:22:35 GMT

Did he get a W2? No, his income only goes on his own 1040 return. They don't have to file if they only have W2 income under 15,750 (2025) but can file to get back any withholding taken out in boxes 2 or 17. But you don't get boxes 4 or 6 back. If they got a 1099Misc or 1099NEC they have to file it as self employment income no matter how small the amount.

If you file a 1040 return for him be sure to check the box on his return that he can be claimed on someone else's return. That is very important. It will be under My Info when you fill out his personal infomation.

He can probably use the Online Free Edition. You can start another return in TurboTax Online by:
Logging out if you are in your account
Choose what TurboTax Online product you want to use for the second return
https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/compare/online

Create your account screen
Set up a new login for the second return
Start working on the new return

Or use the Desktop program. The Desktop program can do unlimited returns and efile 5 for free. And you can use any Desktop version, they all have the same forms. So you could use a lower version than you might need in the Online version.