You can still claim her as your dependent. She does not have to file a tax return but she might want to, she may quality for a tax refund. If she does file, make sure she checks that someone else can claim her on their tax return.
Your child's earned income
Unlike other taxpayers, the IRS treats your child differently depending on whether they earn money from work or through investments. All dependent children who earn more than $12,550 of income in 2021 must file a personal income tax return and might owe tax to the IRS. Earned income only applies to wages and salaries your child receives as a result of providing services to an employer, even if only through a part-time job.
However, even if your child earns less than $12,550 during 2021, it may be a good idea to file a tax return for them, because they could be eligible for a tax refund. Regardless of the amount of income your child earns, their standard deduction is different than yours. It can never exceed the larger of $1,100 or their earned income plus $350, with the maximum equal to $12,550.
Your child's investment income
The rules change when your child receives income from sources other than employment, such as interest and dividend payments. When the 2021 total of this type of income exceeds $1,100, then a return must be filed for your child.
If your child’s unearned income only consists of interest and dividends, then you can elect to include it on your own return and combine it with your income. Do this by completing IRS Form 8814 and attaching it to your personal tax return (TurboTax will do this for you).
However, depending on the level of your income, making this election may result in higher income tax than if you prepare a separate return for your child. This is because it could push you into a higher tax bracket, where higher tax rates may apply. If you decide to prepare a separate return for your child, the same reduced standard deduction rules detailed above will apply.
