Publication 929 - Introductory Material
Filing requirements. The amount of gross income that many dependents with earned income (wages, tips, etc.) can have during the year without having
to file a return has increased. See Filing Requirements in Part 1.
Standard deduction. The standard deduction for many dependents with earned income (wages, tips, etc.) has increased. See Standard Deduction in Part 1.
Alternative minimum tax. The limit on the exemption amount for figuring the alternative minimum tax of a child filing Form 8615 has increased to the
child's earned income plus $6,400 (previously $6,300). See Alternative Minimum Tax in Part 2.
Increase in age of children whose investment income is taxed at parent's rate. The investment income of certain children under age 18 at the end of the year continues to be taxed at the parent's tax rate.
But this rule now also applies in certain cases to a child who either:
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Was age 18 at the end of the year and did not have earned income that was more than half of the child's support, or
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Was a full-time student over age 18 and under age 24 at the end of the year and did not have earned income that was more than
half of the child's support.
See Part 2 for details.
Social security number (SSN). Dependents who are required to file a tax return must have an SSN. To apply for an SSN, file Form SS-5 with the Social Security
Administration. You can go to the website www.socialsecurity.gov for more information.
Individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN). The IRS will issue an ITIN to a nonresident or resident alien who does not have and is not eligible to get an SSN. To apply
for an ITIN, file Form W-7, Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, with the IRS. It usually takes
about 4 to 6 weeks to get an ITIN. The ITIN is entered wherever an SSN is requested on a tax return. If you are a nonresident
alien applying for an ITIN to file a tax return, you generally must attach your original, completed return to Form W-7 to
get an ITIN. If you are required to include another person's SSN on your return and that person does not have and cannot get
an SSN, enter that person's ITIN.An ITIN is for tax use only. It does not entitle you to social security benefits or change
your employment or immigration status under U.S. law.
Photographs of missing children. The Internal Revenue Service is a proud partner with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Photographs of
missing children selected by the Center may appear in this publication on pages that would otherwise be blank. You can help
bring these children home by looking at the photographs and calling 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) if you recognize a child.
Part 1 of this publication explains the filing requirements and other tax information for individuals who can be claimed as a dependent
on another person's tax return.
Part 2 explains how to report and figure the tax on investment income of certain children (whether or not they can be claimed as
dependents).
Definitions.
Many of the terms used in this publication, such as “
dependent,”
“
earned income,” and “
unearned income,” are defined in the
Glossary at the back of this publication.
Comments and suggestions.
We welcome your comments about this publication and your suggestions for future editions.
You can write to us at the following address:
Internal Revenue Service
Individual Forms and Publications Branch
SE:W:CAR:MP:T:I
1111 Constitution Ave. NW, IR-6526
Washington, DC 20224
We respond to many letters by telephone. Therefore, it would be helpful if you would include your daytime phone number,
including the area code, in your correspondence.
You can email us at
*taxforms@irs.gov. (The asterisk must be included in the address.) Please put “
Publications Comment” on the subject line. Although we cannot respond individually to each email, we do appreciate your feedback and will consider
your comments as we revise our tax products.
Ordering forms and publications.
Visit
www.irs.gov/formspubs to download forms and publications, call 1-800-829-3676, or write to the address below and receive a response within 10 days
after your request is received.
Internal Revenue Service
1201 N. Mitsubishi Motorway
Bloomington, IL 61705-6613
Tax questions.
If you have a tax question, check the information available on
www.irs.gov or call 1-800-829-1040. We cannot answer tax questions sent to either of the above addresses.
Useful Items - You may want to see:
Form (and Instructions)
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W-4
Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate
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8615
Tax for Certain Children Who Have Investment Income of More Than $1,800
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8814
Parents' Election To Report Child's Interest and Dividends
See How To Get Tax Help near the end of this publication for information about getting these publications and forms.
