If one of my dependents worked and made 5,500 do they need to file taxes too? Even if i'm claiming them as a dependent?

[vmoscote]

How do I know if my high school dependent needs to file? if they need to file, can I claim them? will they be able to receive money back?

[MargaretL · Accepted solution]

Your dependent needs to file if his/her W-2 income is more than $6300 or his/her self-employed income is more than $400.  He/she will get his/her withholding back from W-2, but nothing on Self-employed income.

The dependent must indicate on his tax return that he is being claimed by someone else.

[Carl]

Also, regardless of the dependent's earnings, if ANY taxes were withheld from those earnings, they need to file their own tax return. With only $5500 of income, all withheld taxes will be refunded - but ONLY if the dependent files a tax return.