Article: 50040

If you are a dependent who has earned income, you are required to file your own separate income tax return. Your parent or legal guardian may still claim you as a dependent on their return if you indicate on your tax return that you can be claimed by someone else.

Dependent income cannot be combined with a parent’s or guardian’s return. Each taxpayer is responsible for filing their own return if their income meets the filing requirement thresholds.

When preparing your return, you will be asked whether you can be claimed as a dependent. This is entered on the Name and Address screen. If you are unsure whether someone else can claim you, select the How do I know? link. This link provides detailed information about the rules and qualifications for being claimed as a dependent, which can help you make the correct selection.