dependent child's tax return

[cspyon]

Hi

I've a 17-year-old daughter, who I claim as my dependent in my tax form.

She earned $2,377 as a part-timer during the weekends last year.

She received W-2 form from the company.

Now, this is my question:

Does she have to file a tax return on her own?

Or can I just combine her tax return into my return form?

[xmasbaby0]

MY DEPENDENT HAD A JOB

If your dependent has a W-2 for his after-school job, summer job, etc. you do not include the information on your own return. You can still claim your child as a dependent on your own return.  He/she can file his own return for a refund of some of his withheld wages (he won’t get back anything for Social Security or Medicare), but MUST indicate on it that he can be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s return.  (Supervise this closely or prepare it for him!)

If your dependent’s earnings were over $400 and were reported on a 1099Misc or 1099NEC then he must file a return and pay self-employment tax for Social Security and Medicare.

You might also want to use free software from the IRS Free File versions:

https://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile/

[DoninGA]

You do Not enter a dependent's earned income on your tax return.  She is not required to file a return since her income is below the minimum filing requirements.  However, if she had taxes withheld from her wages she should file a return for a refund.  If she does file make sure that she indicates on her tax return that she can be claimed as a dependent. 

[cspyon]

She earned $2,377 as a summer job last year.

Can't she file a return for this amount? 

According to her W-2 form, federal income tax withheld is 33cents, state income tax $99.

[xmasbaby0]

What?   The employer withheld 33 cents for federal and $99 for state?   Are you sure they did not withhold 99 cents for the state?   Not ninety-nine dollars?

If you use TurboTax she can use the Free Edition.  Information flows from the federal return to the state return.   She can try e-filing, but if it rejects, she can print and mail the state in if it indicates a refund of the money withheld for the state.   It would not even be worth a stamp to mail the federal.

[cspyon]

Oh, I didn't say state withheld $99.

She paid $99 for state tax.

But her W-2 forms shows 33 cents federal income withheld. 

[xmasbaby0]

What do you mean she "paid $99 for state tax?"   Where are you seeing that?   Is it in box 17 of her W-2?

[xmasbaby0]

@cspyon Please clarify for us where you are seeing the amounts you are telling us about.   Federal tax withheld would be in box 2.   State tax withheld would be in box 17.

What box are you seeing $99 in?

[cspyon]

Yes, it's in box 17.

State income tax box: $99

Box2

Federal tax withheld:  .33

social security tax withheld: 147

Medicare tax withheld: 34

[xmasbaby0]

Very weird.   But back to what was already suggested then.   Prepare returns and see if it shows a refund for the state.   Maybe she can get back the $99--- or some of it.

She cannot get back anything from boxes 3 or 4.

[cspyon]

I agree.

How come the federal tax withheld is ony 33 cents??? 

[xmasbaby0]

Ask the employer.