Should I file my 17 year old tax return seperately

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

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"

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

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

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?

Does this still apply for 2016

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://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901402-do-i-need-to-file-my-own-taxes-if-i-m-a-dependent</a>

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

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

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.

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

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

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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.

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.

IRS FAQ Am I eligible?

Generally, if you are a U.S. citizen or U.S. resident alien, you will receive an Economic Impact Payment of $1,200  ($2,400  for a joint return) if you (and your spouse if filing a joint return)  are not a dependent of another taxpayer and have a Social Security number valid for employment and your adjusted gross income (AGI) does not exceed:

• $150,000  if married and filing a joint return
• $112,500 if filing as  head of household or
• $75,000  for eligible individuals using any other filing status
  Your payment will be reduced by 5% of  the amount by which your AGI exceeds the applicable threshold above.

You are not eligible for a payment if any of the following apply to you:

• You may be claimed as a dependent on another taxpayer’s return (for example, a child or student who may be claimed on a parent’s return or a dependent parent who may be claimed on an adult child’s return).
• You do not have a Social Security number that is valid for employment.
• You are a nonresident alien.
  The following are also not eligible: a deceased individual or an estate or trust.

Your son would have to claim himself (does not check the box Someone can claim: You as a dependent) on his 2020 Federal tax return.  For stimulus payment 1 and stimulus payment 2, he would claim $0 because he did not receive those stimulus payments, you received them.

On your 2020 Federal tax return, you would not claim your son as a dependent.  For stimulus payment 1 and stimulus payment 2, you would claim the dollar amounts that you received.

You would not be eligible for any credits or deductions that would have resulted from you claiming your son as a dependent.

My son turned 18 in October but has zero income. Can he file his own taxes to receive the first 2 stimulus checks?

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@Autumn62406 wrote:

My son turned 18 in October but has zero income. Can he file his own taxes to receive the first 2 stimulus checks?

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If he has no income then he is supported by someone else and can be claimed as a dependent.  A dependent age 17 or older is not eligible for the first two stimulus payments.