Question

Gail is single and earned $28,000 as a cashier, her only income. Gail's son Tony is 17 years old and a full-time student in high school. Tony received Social Security survivor benefits of $5,000 in 2019. None of those benefits were taxable. He earned $10,000 during the summer working as a website developer. Tony had no withholding in box 2 of his Form W-2. He used his Social Security survivor benefits and wages to provide over half of his own support. Gail and Tony lived together all of 2019 and are U.S. Citizens with valid Social Security numbers.

Answer 1

Tony is required to file a tax return because Gail can claim him as a dependent and his income is over $4200.

Step-by-step explanation:

The income of the child determines whether he must file taxes or not. His age does not determine it. So even if Tony is only seventeen year old, he must file his taxes.

Tony has to file the taxes because his earned income for the year is more than $6350 and his unearned income which is in the form of social security benefits is more than $1050, so he has to file his taxes.