What do I do with my minor's W2?

[littlemmy]

My 15 year old was paid $294 this year for her first job. They did deduct taxes. What do I do with her W-2? 

[xmasbaby0]

MY DEPENDENT HAD A JOB

If your dependent has a W-2 for his after-school job, summer job, etc. you do not include the information on your own return. You can still claim your child as a dependent on your own return.  He/she can file his own return for a refund of some of his withheld wages (he won’t get back anything for Social Security or Medicare), but MUST indicate on it that he can be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s return.  (Supervise this closely or prepare it for him!)

If your dependent’s earnings were over $400 and were reported on a 1099Misc or 1099NEC then he must file a return and pay self-employment tax for Social Security and Medicare.

You might also want to use free software from the IRS Free File versions:

https://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile/

[littlemmy]

Does my minor HAVE to file a return?

[xmasbaby0]

No your child is not required to file.   But if he wants a refund of the tax withheld, then filing a tax return is the way to get it.   Use one of the Free File software versions on the IRS site.

[littlemmy]

They did not take out federal income tax, only social security and medicare. Does she need to pay taxes?

[Mike9241]

if the only taxes withheld were medicare and social security, boxes 4 and 6, don't bother filing these taxes are not refundable. the only taxes you could get back would be federal and state withholding Boxes 2 and 17. while e-filing the federal 1040 would be free there is a charge for e-filing state.