Skip to main content
February 12, 2021
Question

My form keeps asking me to fill out Line 6 on the 8615 form and I do not have this form. What do I do?

  • February 12, 2021
  • 1 reply
  • 0 views
No text available

1 reply

RayW7
February 12, 2021

IRS form 8615 is Tax for Certain Children Who Have Unearned Income.

 

Line 6- Enter the parent’s taxable income from Form 1040 or 1040-NR, line 15. If zero or less, enter -0-. If the parent files Form 2555, see the instructions

 

If you do not have Unearned Income then you can delete this form:

 

"Unearned income" is income gained from a source other than employment, work, or other business activity. Money from work, by contrast, is "earned income." Unearned income includes all forms of investment income, including interest, dividends, most rent and royalty income. It also includes capital gains—the profit you make when you sell something for more than what you paid for it.

Who must file the form?

For 2020, a child must file Form 8615 if all of the following conditions apply:

  • The child has more than $2,200 in unearned income
  • The child is required to file a tax return
  • The child does not file a joint tax return with a spouse
  • At least one of the child's parents is alive
  • The child is within certain age limits

For tax purposes, the child's "age" is the age on December 31. The child must file the form if any of these conditions apply:

  • The child is under 18 at the end of the year
  • The child is 18 years old and does not have earned income that is more than half of the child's support for the year, or
  • The child was a full-time student age 19-23 and does not have earned income that is more than half of the child's support

Treatment of unearned income

In general, in 2020 the first $1,100 worth of a child's unearned income is tax-free. The next $1,100 is taxed at the child's income tax rate for 2020. Anything above $2,200, however, is taxed at the rate that applies to trusts and estates, which usually is higher than the child's rate. This tax treatment has gained a nickname: the "kiddie tax." Calculating how much tax applies to the child's income is the purpose of Form 8615.

Information on the form

When filing the form, you must provide the child's name and Social Security Number (SSN) and the name and Social Security Number of a parent, as well as which filing status the parent is using, such as single, joint or married filing separately. The form has three parts:

  • Part I identifies the child's unearned income and how much of it is subject to the kiddie tax
  • Part II calculates the kiddie tax

 

February 14, 2021

I am having the same issue.  I delete this form and it comes back.  I looked through the review questions and he has no unearned income over $2200.  So by definition, my child does not need to file this form.  Is this a bug in TurboTax where  your child reports any INT - like $6 - the program automatically assumes this must be over $2200?

February 18, 2021

The form is being deleted and is immediately re-generated because of the answers to TurboTax's questions about this form.

 

This TurboTax Help explains who must file IRS form 8615:  Tax for Certain Children Who Have Unearned Income.

 

For 2020, a child must file Form 8615 if all of the following conditions apply:

  • The child has more than $2,200 in unearned income
  • The child is required to file a tax return
  • The child does not file a joint tax return with a spouse
  • At least one of the child's parents is alive
  • The child is within certain age limits

For tax purposes, the child's "age" is the age on December 31. The child must file the form if any of these conditions apply:

  • The child is under 18 at the end of the year
  • The child is 18 years old and does not have earned income that is more than half of the child's support for the year, or
  • The child was a full-time student age 19-23 and does not have earned income that is more than half of the child's support

In addition, the IRS defines unearned income as: 

  • Interest, dividend, or investment income,
  • Retirement or Social Security income,
  • Alimony or child support,
  • Unemployment or worker's compensation,
  • Gifts, prizes, awards, or winnings,
  • Inheritances,
  • Income received while incarcerated, even if it involves active work.
**Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post**Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"