小孩要报税 Does Your Child Need to File Taxes?

一个最经典,且在税季被问最多的问题。自家小孩赚的钱需要报税吗?我们普遍的回答:是的,需要报税。因为根据税局要求,我们需要尽报税师的责任,而且我们不建议你在有收入的情况下不报税。何况你不知道到最后是退税还是补税。

但是也有不同的情况,可能不需要报税。例如说,当小孩的收入不达到税局或州政府的标准时。小孩可以不报告这个收入:

  • 打工或生意收入 – 不超过$14,600(联邦, 2024年标准)
  • $3,100(纽约州,是的,非常低)
  • 非打工收入(利息,股票,分红等)- 不超过$1,250(2024年标准)

举个简单例子:

如果你家孩子一整年打工赚了 $6,000

  • 联邦层面:由于低于 $14,600,不需报税
  • 纽约州层面:超过 $3,100 的免税额,因此 需要报税并可能缴税

也就是说,小孩的 $2,900 在纽约州是应税收入

同时,有的人分不清,小孩的收入是否要报告在父母的税单中?如果小孩有收入,小孩将会有一份自己的独立税单,但是小孩还可以出现在父母的税单。因为小孩的税单中会显示被担养的身份。那你可能就问,小孩的收入会不会计算进你们全家的整体收入,答案是会的,但不会在你税单中出现(会有特别例子,这里不提),视乎你的问题和需要在哪一方面。

除此之外,如果孩子收到1099NEC,多数没有扣税的,很大机率需要补税,欠税情况下必须要报税。

在某些时候,孩子报税并不是一件坏事。往好处想的话,孩子可以提前积累退休积分,明白社会运作。 孩子不符合大多数的税务优惠,因此家长也不要期待孩子报税会有很多的退税。

A classic tax-season question: “Does my child need to file taxes if they earned money?”
The short answer: Yes—if there’s income, they likely should file.

When Filing May Not Be Required

There are thresholds below which children are not required to file a tax return:

1) Earned Income (wages, self-employment, etc.):

  • Federal: Up to $14,600 (2024)
  • NY State: Up to $3,100

2) Unearned Income (interest, dividends, etc.):

  • Federal threshold: $1,250

Example:

If your child earned $6,000 from a part-time job:

  • Federal taxes: Below the $14,600 threshold — not required to file
  • New York State: Above $3,100 — must file and may owe tax

Does the Child’s Income Go on the Parents’ Return?

No. The child files their own return, but can still be claimed as a dependent on the parents’ return.
In general:

  • Their income doesn’t count toward parents’ AGI,
  • But may affect eligibility for some credits

If They Received a 1099-NEC?

If a child received a Form 1099-NEC (non-employee compensation):

  • Likely no taxes were withheld
  • Therefore, they may owe tax and must file a return