My oldest turned 18 in October. He's still in school. Do I need to enter in his W2, or should he file himself?

[AnnetteB6]

You cannot include his W-2 as part of your tax return.  He will need to file it on his own return.

If you are claiming him as a dependent, then be sure that he indicates that he is being claimed as a dependent on another return when he files his tax return.  

[Hal_Al · Accepted solution]

You do not report his/her income on your return. If it has to be reported, at all, it goes on his own return. If your dependent child is under age 19 (or under 24 if a full time student), he or she must file a tax return for 2024 if he had any of the following:

1.  Total income (wages, salaries, taxable scholarship etc.) of more than $14,600 ($13,850 for2023).
2.  Unearned income (interest, dividends, capital gains, unemployment, taxable portion of 529 distribution) of more than $1300 ($1250 for 2023). 
3. Unearned income over $450 and gross income of more than $1300.
4.  Household employee income (e.g. baby sitting, lawn mowing) over $2600 ($14,600 if under age 18)
5.  Other self employment income over $432, including money on a form 1099-NEC

Even if he had less, he is allowed to file if he needs to get back income tax withholding. He cannot get back social security or Medicare tax withholding.

In TurboTax, he indicates that somebody else can claim him as a dependent, at the personal information section.