I have a 16 year old daughter who had a baby 12/28/2018. She did work in 2018. Can she file herself and claim her daughter?

[DoninGA]

Does she and the baby live in your home?

[Carl]

Overall while possible, I seriously doubt it. I just don't see a 16 year old mother providing more than half her own support, much less more than half the support for her baby also. Me thinks both your daughter and grand daughter will qualify as dependents on your tax return.

[curlyjd7]

Thank you for your help! This is what I was thinking but not sure.

[Carl]

However, if your 16 year old has any earned income, she will still file her own tax return. When doing so she must select the option for "I can be claimed on someone else's tax return", she must file single, and she can not claim any dependents of her own.

[Opus 17 · Accepted solution]

A person always reports income earned from working on a tax return in their own name, even if they are someone else's dependent.

If she did not earn enough money to have provided more than half her own support, then she is your dependent and must check the box that  "I can be claimed as a dependent by someone else."  If she is someone else's dependent, she can't claim a dependent of her own.

However, assuming she and the baby lived with you, you can claim both your daughter and granddaughter as your dependents.  If they didn't live with you, we would need more information.