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Level 2
June 30, 2019
Question

2018 Standard deduction for college students

  • June 30, 2019
  • 1 reply
  • 0 views

I'm a full time college student and with earned (working) and unearned income (unearned due to a 529 gift in the amount of the scholarship I received from my school).  My total income is above $12K.  Am I able to take the full $12K single deduction since it is less than my total income or am I subject to a lesser amount since 1) my parents claimed me as a "credit for other dependent" on their form and 2) I had earned and unearned (529 earnings) income? If I understood the IRS correctly, I think they were trying to tell me that I had to use the Kiddie formula for the standard deduction (greater of $1,050 or earned income + $350).  I understood their formula for the adjusted deduction of less than $12K, but did not understand if it applied to me because of 1) my parents listing me as a "credit for other dependent" or 2) due to the unearned income from the gain on the 529 gift  or 3) both.  I had a feeling that it had to due with the unearned income; the earnings listed on the 1099Q.

 

 

    1 reply

    VolvoGirl
    Level 15
    June 30, 2019

    The Standard Deduction only depends on if you are claimed on someone else's return.  How much was your W2 earned income?

     

    If you are claimed as a dependent on someone else's return......

     

    The Standard Deduction for an individual for whom an exemption can be claimed on another person's tax return is limited to the greater of:

    …..$1,050 or

    …..Your earned income for the year + $350 (but not more than 12,000)

     

    See page 23 of Publication 501 and the worksheet on page 25

    http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p501.pdf

    Level 2
    June 30, 2019

    Earned was $3,610.