Should my 18 year old file their own taxes?

Asked by: Viva Rempel  |  Last update: August 1, 2023
Score: 4.6/5 (58 votes)

A minor who may be claimed as a dependent has to file a return once their income exceeds their standard deduction. For tax year 2021 this is the greater of $1,100 or the amount of earned income plus $350 up to the full standard deduction of $12,550.

Can a 18 year old file taxes independently?

Your 18 year old cannot claim himself. The IRS rule is if he CAN be claimed on another person's return he cannot claim his own exemption. If your dependent has a W-2 for his after-school job, etc. you do not include the information on your own return.

Can I file taxes if my parents claim me?

If your parents claim you as a dependent on their taxes, you may still need to file your own tax return. As a dependent, you will need to file taxes if you received over $1,100 of unearned income, $12,550 of earned income, or a gross income that was greater than $1,100 or $350 plus your earned income up to $12,200.

Can I claim my 18 year old as a dependent if they work?

The IRS defines a dependent as a qualifying child (under age 19 or under 24 if a full-time student, or any age if permanently and totally disabled) or a qualifying relative. A qualifying dependent can have income but cannot provide more than half of their own annual support.

Can my son file taxes if I claim him?

If your dependent is claimed on your tax return, they may still be required to file an income tax return of their own. The requirements vary by filing status and age.

Taxes for Teenagers and Young Adults - Taxes 101 for beginners

25 related questions found

When should my child claim themselves on taxes?

To claim your child as your dependent, your child must meet either the qualifying child test or the qualifying relative test: To meet the qualifying child test, your child must be younger than you and either younger than 19 years old or be a "student" younger than 24 years old as of the end of the calendar year.

Can my daughter file taxes if I claim her?

Yes, your daughter would file her own income tax return to get a refund. If your daughter got a W-2 for 2016 and had federal income tax withheld, she should file a federal income tax return to get money back (refund).

Can I file independent on taxes if I live with my parents?

You can't be considered independent of your parents just because they refuse to help you with this process. If you do not provide their information on the FAFSA form, the application will be considered “rejected,” and you might not be able to receive any federal student aid.

Should my college student file his own taxes?

College students must file a tax return if they made over a certain income. That income threshold depends on multiple factors, including if you are a dependent or married. Generally, if you're a single student who made more than $12,550, you will have to file a tax return.

Should I let my parents claim me as a dependent?

If you do, your parents should claim you on their taxes. If you filed independently and should have been claimed as a dependent by your parents, or if they claimed you and should not have, you can dispute the dependency with the IRS.

Can I file my own taxes if my mom claimed me?

If you can be claimed as a dependent on your parents' return, you can still file your own return so that you can receive a refund of taxes withheld. (You will not get back anything for Social Security or Medicare withheld.)

What happens if I file as independent and my parents claim me?

If you claimed yourself, and your parents claimed you, one of you has to make the correction to the tax return. After that return is processed, the other party may file their return next. If you file your tax return before your parents file their tax returns, their return will get rejected for the dependent exemption.

Should I file my taxes as a dependent or independent?

Parents typically have a higher income since they are older and more established in their careers. Because of this, your parents are likely to receive a greater tax benefit from your dependency status than you would by filing independently.

Should my college student file his own taxes for stimulus check?

Stimulus check, anyone? There are other good reasons to file your taxes this year if you're a college student. If you didn't get the $1,400 stimulus sent out in the spring of last year because you were listed as a dependent on your parents' taxes, you can get that money this year if you file a federal tax return.

How much do you get for a dependent over 18?

The maximum credit amount is $500 for each dependent who meets certain conditions. For example, ODC can be claimed for: Dependents of any age, including those who are age 18 or older.

Can I choose not to claim my college student as a dependent?

If your income is high enough to lose out on the dependent exemption for a child attending college, your family may benefit from opting not to claim your college student as a dependent. By this point, your child is over the age of 17, so the child tax credit is not available.

How much money can a child make and still be claimed as a dependent in 2019?

For this year's filing, the standard deduction for a dependent child is total earned income up to $12,550. Anything earned, as in worked, under this does not need to be registered, but anything over does.

How do I file taxes if my dependent has income?

Generally, you can't include your dependent's income with yours on your tax return, although there are exceptions. If your income-earning dependents are required to file (or want to file in order to claim a tax refund or credit), they'll have to file their own tax return, separate from yours.

How much money can a child make and still be claimed as a dependent?

Earned Income Only

For 2021, the standard deduction for a dependent child is total earned income plus $350, up to a maximum of $12,550. So, a child can earn up to $12,550 without paying income tax. For 2022, the standard deduction for a dependent child is total earned income plus $400, up to $12,950.

What is the benefit of claiming a dependent over 18?

If you can claim someone as a dependent, certain deductions you can get will lower the amount of income you can be taxed on. If you qualify for a tax credit related to having a dependent, your tax liability will shrink and you may even be able to redeem the credit for a tax refund.

When should my parents stop claiming me?

The federal government allows you to claim dependent children until they are 19. This age limit is extended to 24 if they attend college. If your child is over 24 but not earning much income, they can be claimed as a qualifying relative if they meet the income limits and/or if they are permanently disabled.

Can I still get a stimulus check if I was claimed as a dependent 2021?

If you were claimed as a dependent on someone else's 2020 tax return, you were not eligible for a stimulus check. However, if that changed in 2021 and you meet the other eligibility requirements, you can claim the credit on your 2021 federal tax return (which you file in 2022).

Can I claim my daughter as a dependent if she made over $4000?

Answer: No, because your child would not meet the age test, which says your “qualifying child” must be under age 19 or 24 if a full-time student for at least 5 months out of the year. To be considered a “qualifying relative”, his income must be less than $4,300 in 2021 ($4,300 in 2020 also).

Can I claim my son as a dependent if he works?

Your child may have a job and earn income, but that job cannot provide for more than 1/2 of their support. You need to be providing for more than 1/2 of their support even while they are working.

Should I claim my 18 year old college student as a dependent?

Your student must be less than 24 years old on December 31 of that tax year and younger than you (or your spouse, if filing jointly). Age restrictions do not apply if your child is "permanently and totally disabled."