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Summary: A dependent has to file a tax return when they made less than $3,500 that year, but still received a W-2 from an employer, but the dependent must claim him or herself as dependent. Determine when dependents need to file a tax return with information from an IRS tax agent in this free video on personal finance.
Shrley Chaboneau is the owner of Fast Tax Services in Los Angeles, Calif. She is an enrolled agent with the IRS, and she has been preparing taxes for many years.read more
"On this segment we'll be talking about how to determine if a dependent has to file a tax return. They're no longer your dependent if they earn over 3,500 dollars in any one year. If they earn under 3,500 dollars, you may take them as your dependent and if they have an income from a W2, they can file their own tax return and not claim their dependency to get their refund of any withholding tax that they had taken out on that W2. The threshold is 3,500 from then on you cannot claim them. If you have a dependent child of any age as long as they earn less than 3,500 you can claim them as your dependent. Thank you very much."
eHow Article: How to Determine If a Dependent Has to File a Tax Return
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