Does my dependent son need to do a tax return at all if he only received about $2,500-$3,000 income for 2016?

[babykakes444]

My son, living at home and claimed as a dependent by me, only worked in Nov.-Dec. of 2016, earning about $2,500-$3,000 total income for the year. He received no other income, unemployment, etc. in 2016. His financial aid is being claimed on my tax return and did not exceed what his out of pocket cost for school was. Does he have to do a tax return at all for that amount of income since he received a W-2?

[TomD8 · Accepted solution]

The filing threshold for a dependent's W-2 income is $6300 (2016).  So he is not required to file a return.

(If he wanted whatever refund he might be due of withheld tax, he would have to file a return to get it.  But it's not required.)

[babykakes444]

Thank you. I'm sure this has been answered on here multiple times, I just didn't currently have much time to browse through everything.
If he does want whatever refund he may get and does file a return, I can still claim him as a dependent on my return, as long as he answers "yes" to the 'someone else can claim him as a dependent' question on his?

[TomD8]

Yes, you can.  The fact that he files a return does not preclude you from claiming him as a dependent.

[babykakes444]

Great - thank you for responding!