Does my 19 y.o. son need to file a tax return if I'm claiming him as a dependent?

[clbckr]

He began working 08/18/2025 and total net for 2025 was $5,193.70.

[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 from boxes 2 or 17 (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/

[Opus 17]

In general, a child always files a tax return for their own income, even if they are also claimed as a dependent, and having income usually does not disqualify a child from being a dependent.

In this case, he is required to file if his income is from self-employment.  He must report his gross income, can deduct ordinary and necessary business expenses, and will pay about 15% self-employment tax (which is a version of social security and medicare withholding for self-employed persons).  He won't pay income tax since his income is less than the standard deduction.  

If his income is from a regular job with a W-2, he is not required to file at that dollar amount, unless he had federal or state income taxes withheld and wants a refund of those tax withholdings.