Can I qualify for the new $500 dependent credit for my two children, who are now 17 and 19, if my daughter and had a job that she made close to $6500 and my son $4500?

Yes, you can claim them as your dependents on your return, but they may need to file their own returns to report their income  and indicate that they are claimed as dependents on your return. Use the following information to determine if either of them have a filing requirement. (Even if they are not required to file, if they had tax withheld from their earnings, they may be entitled to a refund and will need to file a return to receive on)

A dependent who is neither age 65 or older, not blind, must file a return for 2018 tax year if he or she has: ? 

• Unearned income over $1,050 

• Earned income over $12,000 

• Gross income more than the larger of $1,050, or earned income up to $11,0650 plus $350 ? 

  If income reported on Form 1099-MISC is subject to self-employment tax (usually reported in box 7 of the form) and it is over $400, she must file a tax return.  

  However, if the income on 1099-MISC is not subject to self-employment tax (usually reported in box 3), no, she is not required to file a return for 2018 unless she had: 

  • Unearned income over $1,050 

  • Earned income over $12,000 

  • Gross income more than the larger of $1,050, or earned income up to $11,0650 plus $350