Should I file my 17 year old tax return seperately

[kimcharg16]

My son wants to receive a refund but its small. Is it worth him filing separately. and can i still claim him as a dependant on mine

[tthao105]

What if the son has no refund? Is it better to file himself or have the parent claim him?

[KaseyM]

Hello, 

If your son made over $6100 then he needs to file his own return. If he made less than that he can still file and he will get back the federal and state income taxes he paid from his W-2. You can still claim him just make sure he checks "I am being claimed as a dependent on someone else's return"

[lglass5]

thank you!  this was my exact issue, and you helped me solve my problem.

[greenfire2108]

I already filed both mine and my son's return on here and we have received our refunds. What should I do?

[angeliz73]

We claimed our 24 year old daughter and she did her own tax return as well and chose "I'm being claimed as a dependent on someone else's return" and the federal return was still rejected because we claimed her. How can I fix this?

[teze17]

Does this still apply for 2016

[SweetieJean]

See this (2015):
<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901402-do-i-need-to-file-my-own-taxes-if-i-m-a-dependent">https:/...>

[jason_banzer]

Where did you get this $6100 figure from? I read it needs to be less than the standard deduction.

[richiegilliam12]

We'll I'm 17 & I did my taxes with my W2 & self-employed, but if he made under $10,000 yu can file!!! But No Your Can't Claim him as a dependent! Bc somebody will Get audited

[mrsvlynch]

Please see TurboTax Employee response. You are incorrect regarding being claimed as a dependent. He simply has to check the box that states someone else is claiming him on a tax return.  If someone is checking that they CANNOT be claimed on someone else's tax return, and the parent/guardian DOES claim them, then someone will likely be audited.  If your parents provide more than 50% of your living expenses, they can claim you.

[KaseyM]

For 2018 taxes, dependents have to file their own return if they made:

• Unearned income was more than $1,050
• Earned income was more than $12,000
• Gross income was more than the larger of $1,050 or earned income up to $11,650 plus $350

[jogger236]

Can a 17 year old file their own tax return, not be on their parents return and get stimulus money?

[DoninGA]

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@jogger236 wrote:

Can a 17 year old file their own tax return, not be on their parents return and get stimulus money?

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 A 17 year old can file their own tax return.  But you can be claimed as a dependent on someone else's return even if you are not claimed, you must indicate on your return that you can be claimed as a dependent.  As a dependent you are not eligible for a stimulus payment.

[maggieluvsbest]

What if I received stimulus money for my son as I filed for him and he was my dependent in 2019 taxes but in 2020 he got his first job he and will be filling taxes for the first time now for the 2020 tax year.  Does he still get to get the Recovery Tax Credit even though technically I got money for him.  If so when he files Turbo tax asks did he get a stimulus so should he say yes and put the amounts I got for him $250 first time and $600 second time or should he put no because technically he had nothing issued directly to him?  Thanks.