My son who is my dependant worked last year. Should I add his W-2 since he paid taxes?

[Ahdayneekay]

He is an adult who worked part of last year, but I took care of him.

[SweetieJean]

No.  In fact, you cannot claim him as a dependent if his income was more than $4,300 (unless he was also a full time student under age 24).  He must file his own tax return.

[Hal_Al]

No.  You do not put your dependent's income on your tax return.  If it has to be reported, at all, it goes on his own return. Your dependent must file a tax return for 2020 if he had any of the following:

1.          Total income (wages, salaries, taxable scholarship etc.) of more than $12,400 (2020).
2.          Unearned income (interest, dividends, capital gains, unemployment) of more than $1100.
3.          Unearned income over $350 and gross income of more than $1100
4.          Household employee income (e.g. baby sitting, lawn mowing) over $2100 ($12,400 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.

[Hal_Al]

There are two types of dependents, "Qualifying Children"(QC) and standard ("Qualifying Relative" in IRS parlance even though they don't have to actually be related). There is no income limit for a QC but there is an age limit, student status, a relationship test and residence test. Only a QC qualifies a taxpayer for the Earned Income Credit.

A child of a taxpayer can still be a “Qualifying Child” (QC) dependent, regardless of his/her income, if:

1. He is under age 19, or under 24 if a full time student for at least 5 months of the year, or is totally & permanently disabled
2. He did not provide more than 1/2 his own support. Scholarships are excluded from the support calculation
3. He lived with the parent (including temporary absences such as away at school) for more than half the year

A person can still be a Qualifying relative dependent, if not a Qualifying Child, if he meets the 6 tests for claiming a dependent:

1. Closely Related OR live with the taxpayer ALL year
2. His/her gross taxable income for the year must be less than $4300 (2020).
3. The taxpayer must have provided more than 1/2 his support

In either case:

4. He must be a US citizen or resident of the US, Canada or Mexico
5. He must not file a joint return with his spouse or be claiming a dependent of his own
6. He must not be the qualifying child of another taxpayer

See full dependent rules at: https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/tax-tips/Family/Rules-for-Claiming-a-Dependent-on-Your-Tax-Ret...

[SweetieJean]

State income tax filing requirements may be different.

[SweetieJean]

He is an adult who worked part of last year, but I took care of him.

How old was he on 12/31/2020?

[Ahdayneekay]

He made less than $1,900.

[Ahdayneekay]

He made less than $1900.

[Ahdayneekay]

22

[Irene2805]

No - do not add your son's W-2 to your return.  Your son is not required to file a return since his income falls below the filing requirements, but he could file his own return to get back any taxes withheld.

If you are using the online version of TurboTax, create another account for your son's return.  Each return requires its own unique login and must be paid for separately (if the return doesn't qualify for Free Edition).   If you prepare his return in your account, it will overwrite your return.

Please see the following TurboTax Help articles:

• Do I need to file my own taxes if I'm a dependent?
• Can I file multiple returns with TurboTax?

[SweetieJean]

State filing requirements may be different.