Do I Have to File Taxes If Someone Else Claims Me?
If someone else claims you as a dependent on their tax return, you still may have to file your own tax return if you have income above a certain threshold amount.
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Factors
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The amount of income that triggers the tax-filing requirement for a dependent differs according to the age and marital status of the dependent. It also depends on whether the income was "earned," meaning that it came from work, or "unearned," such as interest or dividend income.
Examples
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The income thresholds are revised every year. For example, in the 2009 tax year, all dependents under 65 years of age with more than $950 of unearned income or more than $5,700 in earned income must file a separate tax return. An unmarried dependent who is 65 or older with more than $2,350 in unearned income or more than $7,100 of earned income must also file a separate tax return.
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Considerations
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Even if you don't have to file a tax return, the IRS encourages you to do so. Preparing a tax return reveals if you've underpaid or overpaid your taxes. If you've overpaid your taxes and are entitled to a refund, you can't claim it unless you file a return. Plus, tax credits that may reduce or eliminate your tax liability are unavailable to you unless you file.
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References
Resources
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