What is the exact qualifying age for e-filing a child's return?

[fggates1]

My daughter's16th birthday is the day before tax-day this year, and this year she will need to file her first return because of unearned income. I am unable to include her income on my return because it exceeds the threshold.

Now that I have completed my MFJ return and her return in TurboTax I discover that I (she) is unable to e-file through TT because she is younger than 16. What is the exact qualifying age? 16 on 12/31/17? 16 on the day she e-files? 16 on 'tax-day' (4/17/18).

I would prefer to e-file if possible. If I wait until her birthday will I discover that TT now allows her to e-file? Looking for a definitive answer rather than a guess because I would not want to print a return and join the procrastination crowd at the Post Office after belatedly discovering that TT will not allow her to e-file.

[xmasbaby0 · Accepted solution]

It is based on her age at the end of 2017, since it is a 2017 tax return. She will need to print, sign and mail her return.