Tax filing requirement (for dependents) - Glossary (2024)

FAQs

Tax filing requirement (for dependents) - Glossary? ›

The minimum income requiring a dependent to file a federal tax return. 2023 filing requirements for dependents under 65: Earned income of at least $13,850, or unearned income (like from investments or trusts) of at least $1,250. You must include on your Marketplace application income for any dependent required to file.

A dependent child who has earned more than $13,850 of earned income (tax year 2023) typically needs to file a personal income tax form. Earned income includes wages, tips, salaries, and payment from self-employment. This threshold increases to $14,600 for 2024.

Age: Be under age 19 or under 24 if a full-time student, or any age if permanently and totally disabled. Residency: Live with you for more than half the year, with some exceptions. Support: Get more than half their financial support from you.

Make sure your dependent meets the IRS requirements. Generally, the IRS requires that the child is under the age of 19 (or under 24 if a full-time student), lives with you for more than half the year, and does not provide more than half of their own financial support.

What are the three factors needed to determine the filing requirement for a nondependent? Dependent taxpayer test, joint return test, and citizen test.

Gross income is the total of your unearned and earned income. If your gross income was $4,700 or more, you usually can't be claimed as a dependent unless you are a qualifying child. For details, see Dependents.

If you have a dependent who's earning income, good news — you can still claim them as a dependent so long as other dependent rules still apply. Your dependent's earned income doesn't go on your return. Filing tax returns for children is easy in that respect.

A person cannot be claimed as a dependent unless that person is a U.S. citizen, U.S. resident alien, U.S. national, or a resident of Canada or Mexico, for some part of the year. (There is an exception for certain adopted children.)

In general, a dependent should file if their earned income exceeds the standard deduction for singles or if their investment income exceeds $1,250 for 2023 or $1,300 for 2024. You should file a return if you had taxes withheld from your pay in any amount; determine if you should file here.

Can I claim my child as a dependent if they have a job? Your child can still be claimed as your dependent if they meet these IRS requirements: They're related to you by blood, adoption, or you foster them. They're under age 19 (or a full-time student under 24)

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

You can usually claim your children as dependents even if they are dependents with income and no matter how much dependent income they may have or where it comes from.

Even if your child is earning and reporting their own income, you can claim them as a dependent as long as they meet the IRS's qualifying child test.

You can claim a boyfriend or girlfriend as a dependent on your federal income taxes if that person meets certain Internal Revenue Service requirements. To qualify as a dependent, your partner must have lived with you for the entire calendar year and listed your home as their official residence for the full year.

In most cases, income, filing status and age determine if a taxpayer must file a tax return. Other rules may apply if the taxpayer is self-employed or if they are a dependent of another person. For example, if a taxpayer is single and younger than age 65, they must file if their income was at least $12,000.

Most U.S. citizens or permanent residents who work in the U.S. have to file a tax return. Generally, you need to file if: Your gross income is over the filing requirement. You have over $400 in net earnings from self-employment (side jobs or other independent work)

Key Takeaways

A minor who earns less than $13,850 in 2023 will usually not owe taxes but may choose to file a return to receive a refund of tax withheld from their earnings. A child who earns $1,250 or more (tax year 2023) in "unearned income,” such as dividends or interest, needs to file a tax return.

To meet the qualifying child test, your child must be younger than you or your spouse if filing jointly and either younger than 19 years old or be a "student" younger than 24 years old as of the end of the calendar year.

You can usually claim your children as dependents even if they are dependents with income and no matter how much dependent income they may have or where it comes from. However, they must meet the following income test requirements: Your children must be one of these: Under age 19.