Tax Rules May Affect Your Child’s Investment Income
Parents may not realize that there are tax rules that may affect their child’s investment income. The IRS offers the following four facts to help parents determine whether their child’s investment income will be taxed at the parents’ rate or the child's rate.
1. Investment income Children with investment income may have part or all of this income taxed at their parents’ tax rate rather than at the child’s rate. Investment income includes interest, dividends, capital gains and other unearned income.
2. Age requirement The child’s tax must be figured using the parents’ rates if the child has investment income of more than $1,900 and meets one of three age requirements for 2011:
- Was under age 18 at the end of the year,
- Was age 18 at the end of the year and did not have earned income that was more than half of his or her support, or
- 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 his or her support.
3. Form 8615 To figure the child's tax using the parents’ rate for the child’s return, fill out Form 8615, Tax for Certain Children Who Have Investment Income of More Than $1,900, and attach it to the child's federal income tax return.
4. Form 8814 When certain conditions are met, a parent may be able to avoid having to file a tax return for the child by including the child’s income on the parent’s tax return. In this situation, the parent would file Form 8814, Parents' Election To Report Child's Interest and Dividends.
Taxes are complicated! Call us for help 828.277.4177!
Prepare
for your visit
Your Office Visit
Please call our office to schedule your appointment. It is important for you to speak with a tax professional when you drop off your information to be sure we have everything needed to prepare your returns accurately. Below are some things to keep in mind.
- Allow a few minutes for us to look over your paperwork & make copies of your ID & SSN cards, etc.
- You may complete a Client Origanizer from Forms & Worksheets before your visit.
- We will prepare your return using the information provided.
- If we need any additional information, we will contact you in order to complete the return.
- Once we complete the return, we will call and discuss the results and set up a time for you to pick up your completed return.
Prepare
for your visit
Your Office Visit
Please call our office to schedule your appointment. It is important for you to speak with a tax professional when you drop off your information to be sure we have everything needed to prepare your returns accurately. Below are some things to keep in mind.
- Allow a few minutes for us to look over your paperwork & make copies of your ID & SSN cards, etc.
- You may complete a Client Origanizer from Forms & Worksheets before your visit.
- We will prepare your return using the information provided.
- If we need any additional information, we will contact you in order to complete the return.
- Once we complete the return, we will call and discuss the results and set up a time for you to pick up your completed return.
Tax Rules May Affect Your Child’s Investment Income
Parents may not realize that there are tax rules that may affect their child’s investment income. The IRS offers the following four facts to help parents determine whether their child’s investment income will be taxed at the parents’ rate or the child's rate.
1. Investment income Children with investment income may have part or all of this income taxed at their parents’ tax rate rather than at the child’s rate. Investment income includes interest, dividends, capital gains and other unearned income.
2. Age requirement The child’s tax must be figured using the parents’ rates if the child has investment income of more than $1,900 and meets one of three age requirements for 2011:
- Was under age 18 at the end of the year,
- Was age 18 at the end of the year and did not have earned income that was more than half of his or her support, or
- 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 his or her support.
3. Form 8615 To figure the child's tax using the parents’ rate for the child’s return, fill out Form 8615, Tax for Certain Children Who Have Investment Income of More Than $1,900, and attach it to the child's federal income tax return.
4. Form 8814 When certain conditions are met, a parent may be able to avoid having to file a tax return for the child by including the child’s income on the parent’s tax return. In this situation, the parent would file Form 8814, Parents' Election To Report Child's Interest and Dividends.
Taxes are complicated! Call us for help 828.277.4177!