if the child has enough income a return must be filed for them. you must create a separate a/c but you can use the same e-mail address. don't use your a/c because if you do your child's return after yours you will overwrite your tax file so no info for your return will be available in 2021
since you provided no info as to the child's income read the requirements in the 1040 instructions charts B and C
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040gi.pdf
an exception to the child having to file own return
If your child's only income is interest and dividend income (including capital gain distributions) and totals less than $11,000, you may be able to elect to include that income on your return rather than file a return for your child. form 8814
under the following conditions, the child's return must include form 8615 which combines the child's income with the parents to compute the child's tax
Form 8615 must be filed for any child who meets all of the following
conditions.
1. The child had more than $2,200 of unearned income.
2. The child is required to file a tax return.
3. The child either:
a. Was under age 18 at the end of 2020,
b. Was age 18 at the end of 2020 and didn’t have earned
income that was more than half of the child's support, or
c. Was a full-time student at least age 19 and under age 24 at
the end of 2020 and didn’t have earned income that was more than
half of the child's support.
(Earned income is defined later. Support is defined below.)
4. At least one of the child's parents was alive at the end of
2020.
5. The child doesn’t file a joint return for 2020.
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.
Support. Your support includes all amounts spent to provide the
child with food, lodging, clothing, education, medical and dental
care, recreation, transportation, and similar necessities. To figure
your child’s support, count support provided by you, your child, and
others. However, a scholarship received by your child isn’t
considered support if your child is a full-time student. For details,
see Pub. 501, Dependents, Standard Deduction, and Filing
Information.
Certain January 1 birthdays. Use the following chart to determine
whether certain children with January 1 birthdays meet condition 3
under Who Must File.
IF you were born on... THEN, at the end of 2020,
you are considered to be...
January 1, 2003 18*
January 1, 2002 19**
January 1, 1997 24***
*This child isn't under age 18. The child meets condition 3 only if the
child didn't have earned income that was more than half of the child's
support.
**This child meets condition 3 only if the child was a full-time student
who didn't have earned income that was more than half of the child's
support.
***Don’t use Form 8615 for this child.
