Where do I enter my dependent's income?
Typically, you should not include your dependent's income on your tax return.
If your dependent has wages, social security benefits, interest income, dividend income, capital gains, or any other type of income that needs to be reported on a tax return, they will need to file their own return with the income. This is true even if you're claiming them as a dependent.
In a few rare instances, you may qualify to report your child's investment income (not wages) on your return. To see if you qualify, go to Child Investment Income in the Uncommon Income section of the software.
Example: You're filing a tax return and claiming your child as a dependent on your tax return. Your child has a part-time job, earning $3,000 in wages in 2025, and receives their own Form W-2. You will not include this Form W-2 on your tax return, even if you claim the child as a dependent. Because your child received a Form W-2, you'll want to determine if they need to file their own tax return. Your child earned very little throughout the year, but because they had withholdings on their Form W-2, you determine they should file a tax return to get the withholdings back. You'll need to set up a separate account with FreeTaxUSA to file the child's tax return. When entering your child's information, you'll enter the child as the taxpayer and answer Yes to the questions asking if someone can/will claim them as a dependent. Then you'll include the W-2 they received and file their return on this separate account.
If your dependent has wages, social security benefits, interest income, dividend income, capital gains, or any other type of income that needs to be reported on a tax return, they will need to file their own return with the income. This is true even if you're claiming them as a dependent.
In a few rare instances, you may qualify to report your child's investment income (not wages) on your return. To see if you qualify, go to Child Investment Income in the Uncommon Income section of the software.
Example: You're filing a tax return and claiming your child as a dependent on your tax return. Your child has a part-time job, earning $3,000 in wages in 2025, and receives their own Form W-2. You will not include this Form W-2 on your tax return, even if you claim the child as a dependent. Because your child received a Form W-2, you'll want to determine if they need to file their own tax return. Your child earned very little throughout the year, but because they had withholdings on their Form W-2, you determine they should file a tax return to get the withholdings back. You'll need to set up a separate account with FreeTaxUSA to file the child's tax return. When entering your child's information, you'll enter the child as the taxpayer and answer Yes to the questions asking if someone can/will claim them as a dependent. Then you'll include the W-2 they received and file their return on this separate account.
