I'm filing joint with my husband. Does our 22 yo full time student who has no earned income but rec'd scholarships need to file separate?

[MonikaK1]

As a student, your son only needs to file his own return if he has taxable income above the threshold for filing. If he is your dependent, he would need to file if any of the following apply:

• His unearned income was more than $1,250.
• His earned income was more than $13,850.
• His gross income was more than the larger of:
  • $1,250, or
  • his earned income (up to $13,450) plus $400.

If he only has scholarships that are used to pay tuition, then he doesn't have taxable income and no filing requirement.  The amount of scholarship received that exceeds qualified tuition and fees is reportable as gross income.

You may be able to claim education credits if he is your dependent.