"The standard deduction for single is $6300, why is the value loaded on 1040 Line 40 less than the standard?

[TaxGuyBill]

Are you a dependent?
If so, do you have income other than from a job or self employment (interest, dividends, capital gains, unemployment, taxable scholarships, etc.)?

Are you filing as Married Filing Separately?

[pressrob]

My parents will declare me as a dependent on their tax return.  I am a single full time student with both 1099-int and 1098t scholarship income.

[TaxGuyBill · Accepted solution]

Is your taxable scholarship income less than $6300?  If so, it is the interest that is lowering it because you are a dependent.

For dependents, $6300 is the Standard Deduction for earned income (from a job, but for this purpose only, taxable scholarships also count as earned income).

Standard Deduction for unearned income (such as interest) is $1050.

If you have a combination of both, it is $350 plus your earned income (up to a $6300).

See worksheet on page 39 of the Instructions for Form 1040:

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040gi.pdf#page=39

[3333roses]

the turbotax software does NOT include taxable scholarships in determining the Standard deduction.  Isn't this an error in the software??

[TaxGuyBill]

Can you clarify what you mean?  If you can give specific numbers, it will make it easier to understand.

[3333roses]

when calculating the standard deduction on my child's return, it calculates $1,981, which is 1,631 earned income + $350.   The $1,631 is her part time wages, and does not include taxable scholarship income of approx. $1,381, reported on line 21 of the 1040 (from 1099-Q).

[TaxGuyBill]

A 1099-Q is not for scholarships, it is the distribution of a 529 plan.  That is considered as "unearned" income, and would increase the Standard Deduction like a taxable scholarship would.

[3333roses]

But the software is NOT increasing the standard deduction for this.  Is the solution to add the $1,381 (which is the taxable portion of 529 distribution) to the standard deduction calculated by the software of $1,981?

[TaxGuyBill]

Sorry, I left out a very important word in my last comment.  I meant to say the unearned income would NOT increase the Standard Deduction like a taxable scholarship would.

The software is doing it correctly.

The $1381 is unearned income.  So the Standard Deduction consists of $1631 of earned income, plus $350 (for unearned income).  The total Standard Deduction should be $1981.

[3333roses]

thank you 🙂

[TaxGuyBill]

You are welcome.

[3333roses]

By the way, the $350 is not tax on unearned income, rather it is a standard $350 addition for a dependent shown on "Standard deduction worksheet for Dependents".