When a taxpayer is claimed as a dependent and has earned income, must they file a tax return to claim a refund?

A taxpayer who is claimed as a dependent has specific filing requirements that differ from those who are not dependents. When a dependent has earned income, they must file a tax return if their earned income exceeds a certain threshold, which can vary year by year. However, even if their income is below this threshold, it is critical for dependents to understand that they can still file a return to claim a refund if they had taxes withheld or if they qualify for certain refundable credits.

In many cases, dependents do not have to file a return solely for the purpose of reporting income; however, filing can be advantageous for them to recover withholdings that were taken from their paychecks. Thus, it is considered a requirement to file a return if they want to claim any potential refund.