Does a full time student making $11000 pay federal tax on this amount or are they exempt?

[DoninGA · Accepted solution]

There are no exemptions for being a full time student.

You report all income received in 2016 on your tax return.  If you are not being claimed as a dependent and are filing as Single then you receive a standard deduction of $6,300 and a personal exemption of $4,050.  So the first $10,350 is not taxable on your return.  If your total tax payments (taxes withheld) are greater than your total tax liabilities you will receive a tax refund for the overpayment.

If you are being claimed as a dependent on someone else's tax return then you do not receive the personal exemption on your tax return.  That exemption is entered on the tax return of the person who claims you as a dependent.  Then you would only receive the standard deduction of $6,300 on your tax return.