Solved

I have not had a job this year, but I do have two children and i go to college fulltime. Do i still need to file a return?

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
May 31, 2019
6 replies
0 views

No text available

Best answer by Hal_Al

No, you are not required to. But, you may want to, if you qualify for the AOTC.

The money you hear about people getting for just filing a tax return claiming kids requires you to have some earned income (wages or self employment). Without earned income, you are not eligible for the "refundable" Earned Income Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit.

If you are over age 23, and are not claimed as a dependent by someone else (e.g. your parent) you may be eligible for the up to $1000 refundable American Opportunity Tuition Credit (AOTC). That credit is not dependent on having either kids or earned income. You must be at least a half time undergraduate student and actually paid tuition (not just had it paid by grants). Tuition paid by loans counts as paid by you (since you have to pay that back, someday)

S

SweetieJean

Any income at all? Scholarships or grants?

K

kadele0130Author

No income at all. No scholarships yes i have received pell grants.

S

SweetieJean

Grants in excess of qualified educational expenses are taxable income..
<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2997082-do-i-have-to-report-pell-grant">https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2997082-do-i-have-to-report-pell-grant</a>

Hal_Al

Pell grants may be taxable income but they are not "earned income" and do not qualify you for the child based refundable credits.

Hal_AlAnswer

No, you are not required to. But, you may want to, if you qualify for the AOTC.

The money you hear about people getting for just filing a tax return claiming kids requires you to have some earned income (wages or self employment). Without earned income, you are not eligible for the "refundable" Earned Income Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit.

If you are over age 23, and are not claimed as a dependent by someone else (e.g. your parent) you may be eligible for the up to $1000 refundable American Opportunity Tuition Credit (AOTC). That credit is not dependent on having either kids or earned income. You must be at least a half time undergraduate student and actually paid tuition (not just had it paid by grants). Tuition paid by loans counts as paid by you (since you have to pay that back, someday)

R

rhino18us

No you don't need to file .