I get asked a lot of questions about whether a teenager earning money can still be a dependent of their parents.
Here’s the good news:
A teenager can earn a LOT of money and still be a dependent on their parents tax return.
Several students I know earned more than $10,000 a year and are still a dependent on their parents tax return.
How?
They pass all the IRS’s dependency tests:
- Relationship (related to you)
- Citizenship in the USA
- Residence (lived with you)
- Age (under age 19 or a full time student under age 24)
- Support (the teenager did not provide more than one-half of his/her own support for the year)
The last one, support test, seems to trip up parents.
If your child did not pay for more than half their support, then they can still be your dependent.
A teenager can earn a LOT of money and still be your dependent, if you are the one supporting them.
Support includes:
- food
- housing
- clothing
- education
- medical and dental care
- transportation
- recreation
- and other necessities
To be absolutely certain if your teenager is your dependent, use the IRS online interview tool: Who Can I Claim as a Dependent?
Please do NOT ask me to determine if your teenager is your dependent. I do not know the details of your situation, who paid for what, etc (nor do I wish to know the details!). You’ll have to determine that on your own.
My ebook Teens and Taxes can be a big help to prepare you teenagers tax return.
Pdf version (easy to read on your computer) $5.00
Updated for 2018 tax laws changes!
Carol Topp, CPA is the author of Teens and Taxes: A Guide for Parents and Teenagers.
